The main goal of this research is to compare thermoeconomic performance of a GAX absorption cycle and
a hybrid GAX absorption cycle in which a compressor is employed to raise the absorber pressure. In order
to do this, the ammonia–water standard GAX (SGAX) and hybrid GAX (HGAX) absorption refrigeration
cycles are investigated and optimized from the viewpoints of thermodynamics and economics. Parametric studies are carried out and with the help of genetic algorithm (GA), the cycles’ performance is optimized based on the COP and exergy efficiency as well as the cost of unit product. Results indicate that
although, compared to the GAX cycle, the HGAX cycle demonstrates a better performance from the view
points of both the first and second laws of thermodynamics, the unit product cost for the HGAX cycle is
higher. At the optimum operating conditions, the cost of unit product for the HGAX cycle is calculated as
180.5 $/GJ while the corresponding value for the SGAX cycle is obtained as 159.1 $/GJ. Also, the exergoeconomic analyses unfold that the condenser has the lowest exergoeconomic factor, f, in both the systems. In addition, inspired from nature, a new graphical plot is proposed to illustrate the fuel cost,
product cost, capital investment and operating and maintenance cost and cost rates associated with
the exergy destruction and losses within the system’s components.