Energy and exergy analysis of a novel solar-based system merged with power cycle

Abstract

Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTC) is a power generation unit that works based on solar energy. This system provides a considerable amount of thermal power but no electrical energy. Hence, the current investigation attempts to boost the outputs of the PTC system by merging this unit with the Photovoltaic (PV) module and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). In this regard, the outputs of the conventional PTC system under multiple operating conditions are compared with those of PTC-PV, PTC-ORC, and PTC-PV-ORC systems. These systems are three-dimensionally simulated using the steady-state approach and the influences of variation in the solar flux and concentration ratio on the energy and exergy efficiencies are scrutinized. According to the obtained data, at the base case condition, the overall energy efficiencies of the conventional PTC, PTC-PV, PTC-ORC, and PTC-PV-ORC systems are 42.75%, 47.20%, 13.43%, and 21.46%, respectively. The performance of these systems from the exergy viewpoints is 5.51%, 14.31%, 4.19%, and 13.33%, respectively. Based on the simulations, from the electrical energy and exergy viewpoints, the PTC-PV-ORC system has the highest performance followed by PTC-PV and PTC-ORC systems. Nonetheless, the thermal exergy of the ORC-based systems is remarkably lower than that of single solar units. This study shows the integration of the PTC system with the PV module and ORC boosts the output of this conventional unit.