ABSTRACT
This chapter applies the availability equations to several common processes such as pumps, compressors, and fans; turbines; nozzles and diffusers; heat exchangers; fluid flow; and energy storage. It introduces the second law efficiency, sometimes referred to as process effectiveness. The chapter shows that the second law efficiency is developed with the concept of availability and is compared with the conventional first law efficiency. It compares the availability analysis with the energy analysis and, in so doing, presents the advantages of the availability method. In an availability analysis, attention is given to the quantity as well as the quality of energy. The analysis emphasizes the effects of availability loss and availability destruction on the process performance. In an availability analysis, one of the objectives is to determine the availability loss and destruction. Another objective of availability analysis is to determine the second law efficiency, or process effectiveness.
