Thermodynamic and exergoeconomic analyses of a novel solar-based externally fired biomass combined cycle with hydrogen production

Abstract

In this paper, a novel solar-based combined cycle with hydrogen production is proposed and assessed with thermodynamic and exeroeconomic analyses. This cycle is an externally fired combined cycle that uses biomass as a fuel in combination with a photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) solar collector system. Hydrogen can be used in a combustion chamber as a supplemental fuel when it is not used independently. Some of the important findings are that increasing the PVT area (1) decreases the cycle energy and exergy efficiencies, (2) increases the investment cost rate of system components, and (3) decreases the CO₂ discharge rate. The results are for the optimum energy efficiency point and a PVT area of 400 m², which is a moderate size. Increasing r_p results in a maximum point for the total unit product cost at around r_p = 7. But the range of difference is minor for a PVT area of 900 m².

KEYWORDS:

• Exergy analysis
• exergoeconomic analysis
• externally fired combined cycle
• photovoltaic/thermal collector

Disclosure statement

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