Development of an integrated system with desalination and heat storage options

Abstract

In this study, a novel renewable energy-based multigenerational system integrated with desalination and molten salt storage subsystems is developed, thermodynamically analyzed and holistically assessed through energy and exergy efficiencies. The solar power system is integrated with a geothermal energy plant, wind turbine, proton exchange membrane (PEM) and methanol synthesis with CO2hydrogenation reactor. Also, a multi-effect desalination unit is integrated into the system to produce fresh water. During the absence of solar irradiation, a molten salt storage system is employed to provide the required energy to operate the system. The City of Vancouver in Canada is considered for a case study of the proposed integrated system. The proposed system is designed to utilize both geothermal and solar sources for residential applications, including communities with multiple buildings, by producing useful necessities, such as electricity, heat, hot water, freshwater and methanol. The produced methanol as a clean energy carrier is used for energy storage to balance demand and supply in the absence or insufficiency of other renewables, such as solar and wind, besides molten salt heat storage in the integrated system. Designing renewable-based multigenerational system that plays an important role in reducing environmental impacts but increasing efficiency composes the main motivation of this study. The system thermodynamic performance analysis is achieved through energy and exergy approaches. The overall system energy and exergy efficiencies at 3.1 m/s wind speed and 100.000 W/m2 are found as 25.89% and 28.66%, respectively. It is furthermore aimed to design a novel integrated system which appears to be superior to a conventional single-source based system.