Design and 3E analysis of a hybrid power plant integrated with a single-effect absorption chiller driven by a heliostat field: A case study for Doha, Qatar

Abstract

This study suggests a novel zero-emission combined cooling and power (CCP) system using a high-temperature solar field, i.e., heliostat reflectors and a central receiver as the heat supplier of the whole system. In addition to the solar field, the proposed system consists of a hybrid power plant comprising a closed Brayton cycle using helium gas and a Kalina cycle, and a cooling production unit through a single-effect absorption chiller. To ameliorate the technical contribution of the current research work, the system suggested here was considered for a case study in Doha, Qatar. Hence, a comprehensive parametric analysis taking into account the energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic (3E analysis) performance criteria based on crucial design parameters is conducted. Furthermore, the economic feasibility analysis of the system is carried out through appraising the net present value. Regarding the parametric analysis, the 3E criteria evaluated here exhibited more sensitivity to variation in heliostat field efficiency and helium turbine inlet temperature, respectively. Moreover, the baseline design mode demonstrated that the electricity was produced by 15.29 MW, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the cooling production unit was 0.812, and also the overall exergy efficiency and sum unit cost of products were obtained as 29.87% and 4.34 $/GJ, respectively. Likewise, for the electrical unit exergy cost of 0.05 $/kWh and cooling unit exergy cost of 0.08 $/kWh, the calculated net present value and payback period of the suggested system were correspondingly equal to 1.605×107 and 3.1 years.