Comparative analysis of a solar trigeneration system based on parabolic trough collectors using graphene and ferrofluid nanoparticles

Abstract

In this comparative study, the thermodynamic analysis of a trigeneration system driven by a parabolic through solar collector based on two different types of nanofluid is performed. A standard trigeneration system consists of two subsystems, including an absorption heat pump and the organic Rankine cycle. Two types of nanoparticles (graphene and ferrofluid) that possess excellent and diverse physical properties within a base fluid (Syltherm 800) were selected to be the absorption fluids in the solar cycle. Four organic fluids, namely R123, R401a, R601, and R601a, for the organic Rankine cycle are examined. The results clearly depicted improvement in the system performance. It was found that graphene nanoparticles performed better as compared to the ferrofluid nanoparticles. The largest temperature of the collector outlet was obtained at 257.4? with Syltherm 800/graphene. The highest net power produced by the system was 134.1 kW and the maximum overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the system were 160.5% and 21.84%, respectively. The highest net power produced by the system was 134.1 kW and the maximum overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the system were 160.5% and 21.84%, respectively. The solar collectors are the main source of the exergy destruction and the highest value was recorded about 683 kW.