Title: Exergy, exergoeconomic and exergy-based emission cost analyses of a coconut husk-fired power and desalination plant

Authors: Atilio Barbosa Lourenço; Monica Carvalho

Addresses: Laboratory of Power Generation (LaGePot), Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEM), Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes), Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória-ES, Brazil ' Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, s/n - Castelo Branco - João Pessoa - Paraíba - CEP 58051-970, Brazil

Abstract: A renewable-based energy system is proposed herein, which employs coconut husk briquettes and produces electricity and fresh water for a small municipality. The system is constituted by a Rankine-based steam power plant and a set of mechanical vapour compression desalination modules. Exergy-based cost allocation methodology is applied to the system, where exergy, economic, and emission costs are allocated to both electricity and fresh water. The energy system satisfied more than 70% of the water demand of the municipality - however, despite technically and socially viable, there are still margins for improvement.

Keywords: bioenergy; carbon dioxide; mechanical vapor compression; polygeneration; Rankine cycle; renewable energy; thermoeconomics; waste-to-energy; water-energy nexus.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2020.108594

International Journal of Exergy, 2020 Vol.32 No.3, pp.267 - 291

Received: 19 Sep 2019
Accepted: 07 Jan 2020
Published online: 20 Jul 2020 *

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