Biomass possessing toward an efficient arrangement using a novel framework of waste-to-useful products: MOPSO optimization and comprehensive thermodynamic and cost analyses

Abstract

The maximum use of the potential of biomass-fed power plants through an efficient waste-to-useful products framework ameliorates the performance resulting in better applicability. The current study suggests a novel multi-heat recovery for multiple productions aimed at simultaneous power, liquefied hydrogen, natural gas for urban usage, and freshwater generation. Meanwhile, the main system is made of a biomass processing unit using a gasifier, a Brayton cycle, a carbon dioxide power cycle, a Kalina cycle, a multi-effect desalination, and a Claude cycle attributed to hydrogen liquefaction, and a liquefied natural gas cold energy recovery-based power cycle. The system is examined from the viewpoints of thermodynamic and economic profitability and is optimized in four different scenarios employing a MOPSO (multi-objective particle swarm optimization) technique. Additionally, the sensitivity of the profitability measured by the NPV (net present value) is also evaluated at different prices of input fuel and products. Moreover, the scenarios of the MOPSO include exergyefficiency(εcycle)/NPVtotal, εcycle/freshwaterproductivity(m˙fw), NPVtotal/m˙fw, and εcycle/NPVtotal/m˙fw. Regarding the highest sensitivity impact of the inlet air compressor's pressure ratio on the performance variables and hydrogen liquefaction price on the NPVtotal, the last optimum case stated εcycle=37.1%,NPVtotal=1.635M$,andm˙fw=29.9kg/s.