Finite-time thermoeconomic optimization of a non-endoreversible Novikov power plant model under different regimes of performance with Dulong-petit's heat transfer law

In 1995, Alexis De Vos introduced a thermoeconomical analysis of a Novikov plant model that is optimized with respect to economical exploitation, considering costs of investment and fuel. De Vos showed how the optimal efficiency smoothly increases from the maximum-power point corresponding to energy sources where the investment is the preponderant cost up to the Carnot value, corresponding to energy sources where the fuel is the predominant cost when the heat fluxes in the Novikov model are given by a linear Newtonian heat transfer law. In this work, we study the thermoeconomics of a Novikov plant considering the Dulong-Petit’s heat transfer law. We also take into account a cost associated to maintenance of the power plant that is proportional to the power output of the plant. We consider three regimes of performance: maximum power output, maximum efficient power and maximum ecological regime. It is shown that under ecological conditions the plant dramatically reduces the amount of heat rejected to the environment, and a loss of profits is translated in an usage of fuels that dramatically reduces the heat rejected towards the environment respect to that of a maximum power regime.