Multi-aspect analysis of an innovative environmentally friendly process integrated into a gas turbine power plant using a multi-heat recovery approach

Abstract

This study presents a novel heat integration model for a gas turbine power plant that enables sustainability through efficient utility generation and production of fresh water. Significant advantage of proposed system lies in its utilization of a novel thermal matching method between integrated combined processes, leading to development of an environmentally sustainable multi-generation structure. Consequently, the integrated system includes a Kalina cycle, high- and low-temperature organic Rankine cycles, an absorption chiller, a heating provision unit, and a water desalination subsystem. The simulated procedure utilizes the Aspen HYSYS software and follows with a comprehensive analysis to assess its energy, exergy, economic, and environmental characteristics. The study's findings exhibited net power output, cooling load, heating load, and desalination energy output of 23,924.06 kW, 3486 kW, 6671 kW, and 230.9 kW, respectively. The system's energy efficiency improves from 47.81 % to 68.58 % when operating in single-generation and multi-generation modes. Likewise, the exergy efficiency improves from 45.55 % to 52.42 %. The study also illustrates the carbon dioxide emission intensity associated with both mentioned modes at 0.4187 kg/kWh and 0.2641 kg/kWh, respectively. Besides, the economic evaluation reveals total annual cost, cost of energy, and total cost of products of 147.65 M$/year, 0.5783 $/kWh, and 10.71 $/GJ, respectively.