Development and performance assessment of a calcium-iron bromide cycle-based hydrogen production integrated system

Abstract

In this study, a novel renewable energy-based trigeneration system integrated with a thermochemical cycle is newly developed, analyzed, and evaluated to determine its performance for residential applications. Both solar radiation and wind kinetic energy are harnessed for electricity production. A newly developed biomass-driven thermochemical cycle for hydrogen generation and potential blending with natural gas is analyzed and evaluated accordingly. The blend is then potentially supplied to the gas engine and some residential appliances, such as combi boilers and gas stoves to provide necessary electricity and heat. The heat obtained from the subsystems is employed for residential heating and cooking, as well as for a distillation unit. The reverse osmosis and multi-effect distillation units are both considered in an integrated fashion to produce fresh water for a community considered which consists of 10,000 houses. A total amount of 14.2 million m3 of the blend (with a ratio of 20% of hydrogen and 80% of natural gas) is annually available to potentially utilize for household appliances and gas engines. Furthermore, the present integrated system is analyzed through both energy and exergy approaches. Some parametric studies are then performed for different hydrogen fractions, hydrogen production rates, solar PV areas, wind turbine swept areas, and the number of houses. Moreover, the overall exergetic and energetic efficiencies are determined as 21.02% and 62.61% for the presently developed system.