A comprehensive thermo-economic-environmental study of an eco-friendly process incorporated with a natural gas-fed combined power plant for a novel multigeneration application

Abstract

In order to achieve very efficient heat recovery, this study presents an innovative, environmentally friendly multigeneration process that is incorporated into a natural gas combined cycle system. A water electrolyzer, an enhanced absorption refrigeration cycle, a water desalination unit, and methanol production are only a few of the subsystems that must be used in this process. The simulation methods are carried out using the Aspen HYSYS program, which allows for a comprehensive study about the thermo-economic-environmental component. The feasibility analysis results show that the system can produce 111 MW of electricity, 175.6 kg/s of chilled water, 334.9 kg/s of domestic hot water, 7.54 kg/s of oxygen, 18.8 kg/s of fresh water, and 4.59 kg/s of methanol. Consequently, it is found that the energy and energy efficiencies are, respectively, 55.58% and 62.36%. It is shown that 344.3 MW is the overall irreversibility related to the suggested construction. Notably, the combustion chamber contributes the most of all the components, making up a significant 42.94% of the total. The primary cause of irreversibility among the subsystems is the natural gas combined cycle, which accounts for 76% of the total. Furthermore, from an economic standpoint, the entire product cost is 0.0566 $/kWh, but the total unit cost of the goods is 3.59 $/GJ. Additionally, 807.98 M$ is the determined number for the net present value. Furthermore, the suggested system has a carbon dioxide footprint of 0.286 kgCO2/kWh. This variable is 8.88% and 8.13% less than those of stand-alone power plants powered by natural gas and oil, respectively.