Exergy, Exergoeconomic, Exergoenvironmental, Emergy-based Assessment and Advanced Exergy-based Analysis of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Power Plant

Abstract

The high amount of solar energy as clean and sustainable energy has increased awareness in solar energy concentration, especially in integrated concepts. One of the best and promising hybrid configurations for converting solar energy into power is an integrated solar combined cycle system (ISCCS). In this study, conventional and advanced analysis tools for the ISCCS located in Yazd (Iran) have been investigated. In this paper, thermodynamic simulation, exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental analysis based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) have been performed. In addition, an emergy-based concept, including emergoeconomic and emergoenvironmental assessment, has been performed. In-depth analysis of exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental modelling, advanced exergy analysis based on endogenous/exogenous and avoidable/unavoidable parts have been done. In this regard, MATLAB code has been developed for thermodynamic simulation, exergy, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironment, emergoeconomic and emergoenvironment analysis. Furthermore, THERMOFLEX (commercial software) applied for thermodynamic simulation and verification. The Sankey diagram based on each analysis tool has been constructed. Furthermore, the priority of improvement based on each analysis has been identified. The thermal efficiency and net power generation of ISCCS are 48.25% and 419600 kW, respectively. It was obsereved that in most equipment, less than 10% of exergy destruction and cost and environmental impact rates were avoidable/endogenous.