Geothermal and solar based mutligenerational system: A comparative analysis

Abstract

The current study focuses on the comparative analyses of multigeneration systems integrated with an electrolyzer for the production of hydrogen, for work rate a regenerative Rankine Cycle and finally for the cooling effect vapor absorption cycle was used. The power produced by both proposed systems was observed to yield some difference based on their positioning in the system and similarly, the rate of hydrogen production from the electrolyzer was also observed. Energetic and exergetic analyses of both the systems are done including all the concerned components. Certain parameters are varied to observe the overall changes in the system along with their effect on the overall efficiencies. A comparative analysis between the two proposed systems was carried out in the present study and eventually providing an efficient system, adding up to the novelty of this publication. At the similar ambient working conditions one of the systems was observed to yield an approximately 0.45% power efficiency difference but when the working parameters were varied, the difference was observed to be abrupt. The electrolyzer has a generation rate of 0.296 g/s and 0.2648 g/s respectively for both systems at base working conditions. At 800 W/m2 of solar irradiance, the Rankine-Trough-Vapour (RTV) cycle produced 11.77% more net power as compared with Vapour-Trough-Rankine (VTR) cycle. Hydrogen production is considered to be one of the most valuable asset of this analysis because of its immense use in multiple processes. Furthermore, this study suggests the most efficient system for different atmospheric conditions.