Exergy analysis and finite-time assessment of a multi-generation system based on solar and wind energies

Abstract

This paper studies a multi-generation system by exergy and finite-time assessment based on solar and wind energies. The proposed system provides electricity, cooling, heating, hydrogen, desalinated water, and domestic hot water. The subsystem includes a solar cycle, Kalina cycle, wind turbine, electrolyzer, single-effect absorption chiller, photovoltaic panel, and desalination unit. The multi-generation system studied in Bandar Abbas climate of Iran. The results reveal that the total exergy destruction of the system is 440.4707 kW, 42.86% of this is related to the solar collector, and 25.18% is associated with the wind turbine. Also, the maximum energy efficiency of the multi-generation system is 79.55% in the spring equinox and 17.77% in the summer solstice. In addition, the optimisation of the system based on thermodynamic and economic criteria show that the maximum power, energy & exergy efficiencies, maximum ecological and ecologicost are 398 kW, 63.36%, 16.68%, –49.2273 kW, and –0.000091433 kW/$, respectively. Finally, by using the ecologicost criterion, the proposed system can produce 0.015 kg/s hydrogen.

KEYWORDS:

• Renewable energy
• exergy analysis
• finite time thermodynamics
• multi-generation system
• ecologicost

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).