Title: Integrated exergy and energy analysis of a multi-generation system for sustainable energy production: a case study on solar energy-based power generation, desalination, and hydrogen production

Authors: Mohammad Javad Shabani; Mojtaba Babaelahi

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

Abstract: A novel power, fresh water, hydrogen, and cooling generation system from solar energy and gas turbine waste heat is proposed. It integrates solar collection, multi-stage desalination, hydrogen production/compression, Kalina cycle, organic rankine cycle, Brayton cycle, and ejector refrigeration. A thermodynamic model shows the system achieves 6.366 kg/s freshwater production along with 0.042 kg/s hydrogen and 1,668.4 kW cooling load. The net-power generation is 32.269 MW with an ejector refrigeration coefficient of performance of 0.3193. The overall energy and exergy efficiencies are 38.45% and 35.64%. This innovative integration of renewable energy and waste heat recovery enables highly efficient multi-product generation.

Keywords: renewable energy; simultaneous production; freshwater; hydrogen; cooling system; energy analysis; exergy efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.139228

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.44 No.2, pp.139 - 159

Received: 14 Oct 2023
Accepted: 17 Feb 2024
Published online: 26 Jun 2024 *

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