Design and 3E scrutiny of a trigeneration system, consisting of a solar chimney, multi-effect desalination, and water electrolyzer: A process for evaluating regional applications

Abstract

Low/medium temperature solar thermal applications are more economically feasible for seawater desalination. In this way, the current research presents a novel combined process in a solar chimney, wherein a multi-effect desalination and a polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer are established, producing electric power, fresh water, and high-purity hydrogen simultaneously. This model is simulated under the steady-state conditions by the engineering equation solver environment, then a comprehensive assessment is accomplished from the viewpoints of thermodynamics and cost. The results exhibit that the higher chimney’s diameters and the higher pressure drops across the turbine lead to higher thermodynamic efficiencies as well as lower costs. The base design conditions show that this arrangement results in energetic and exergetic efficiencies of 31.08% and 7.08%, individually. From the cost facet, the sum unit cost of products is computed as 16.86 $/GJ, so the payback period (PP) of 3.47 years is available. The potential of the configured system is investigated using a regional application method, for which four different countries are regarded. The selected areas include Alice Springs, Madrid, Riyadh, and Tehran. Considering the case study, the proposed arrangement is more efficient when applied to the climatic conditions in Tehran.