Exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of a hybrid airborne wind and solar energy system for power, liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide production

Abstract

Airborne wind energy (AWE) systems have emerged as cost-effective and sustainable solutions that have not yet been coupled with solar technologies and integrated power plants to produce energy and on-demand substances. This study proposes an integrated system driven by an innovative AWE and photovoltaic (PV) hybrid system. This combination can harness stronger and more stable wind energy while decreasing system costs and power intermittency. The proposed system combines seven subsystems, including AWE, PV, air separation unit, oxyfuel power plant, absorption refrigeration, a nitrogen liquefaction process, and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) to simultaneously generate power, liquid nitrogen, and liquid carbon dioxide. The hybrid AWE-PV system can generate 10.8 MW power to initiate the system to produce 55 MW power, 127.2 m3/h liquid nitrogen, and 98.4 m3/h liquid carbon dioxide. The exergy analysis has been conducted, showing maximum exergy destruction in heat exchangers, and the total exergy efficiency of the integrated structure reaches 90.21 %. The exergoeconomic analysis illustrates that the maximum capital cost occurs in compressors and turbines with a percentage of 51 % (∼4600 $/h) and 26 % (∼2400 $/h), respectively. This first demonstration of implementing hybrid AWE-PV renewable energy sources in an integrated structure can open new perspectives and avenues toward using AWE and its combination with other renewable energy sources in the future.