Title: An optimised solar-based microgrid integrated with desalination to enhance exergy sustainability

Authors: Mohammadali Kiehbadroudinezhad; Adel Merabet; Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha

Addresses: Division of Engineering, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada ' Division of Engineering, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada ' Department of Mechanical Engineering of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract: The size of a solar microgrid system should be designed based on aspects of sustainability, such as cost, exergy, etc. This study by the division algorithm finds the optimal size with maximum reliability vs. the cumulative exergy demand. Larak Island, Iran, is used as an example of how the concept could be applied to the real world. According to the introduced optimal size, 1 m³ of freshwater generated by the solar energy system leads to an average cumulative exergy demand of 17 MJ. While integrating a diesel generator into system means, exergy demand reaches 33 MJ/m³ of freshwater.

Keywords: solar energy; cumulative exergy demand; desalination; optimisation; reliability; division algorithm.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2023.131482

International Journal of Exergy, 2023 Vol.41 No.2, pp.111 - 130

Received: 01 Aug 2022
Received in revised form: 20 Dec 2022
Accepted: 21 Dec 2022
Published online: 14 Jun 2023 *

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