Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analyzes of a new biomass/solar-driven multigeneration energy system: An effort to maximum utilization of the waste heat of gasification process

Abstract

In addition to improving the sustainability and thermodynamic efficiencies of an energy conversion system, a solar/biomass-driven integrated energy system can also reduce environmental impacts. The current work presents a detailed evaluation (thermodynamic simulation and exergoenvironmental and exergoeconomic analyzes) of a solar/biomass-powered multigeneration energy system (MGES). Accordingly, four units were considered for electric power generation. A linear Fresnel concentrator (LFC)-driven solar farm, a municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification cycle, an alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) unit (to produce hydrogen gas), and a multi effect desalination (MED)-based Seawater desalination cycle are also considered in the MGES. A multi-objective optimization (regarding the technical, cost, and environmental objective functions) was also developed for the offered MGES. The proposed configuration for the MGES has a new components process that had not been reported in the publications. The power generation level was improved by utilizing the energy available in waste heat in the different downstream units. The offered MGES can generate 154.1 MW of electrical power, ∼ 280 kg per day of hydrogen gas, and 265.4 m3/h of fresh water. Meantime, the offered MGES can 38.8 % and 32.2 % efficient in terms of energy and exergy, respectively. Besides, the LCOE value and the environmental impacts index for the offered MGES were approximately 3.82 USD/GJ and 0.545 Pts/GJ, respectively. Also, raising the syngas temperature at the inlet of the combustion chamber can be a reasonable decision from the exergetic, economic and (especially) environmental standpoints.