Multi-criteria evaluation and optimization of a novel thermodynamic cycle based on a wind farm, Kalina cycle and storage system: An effort to improve efficiency and sustainability

Abstract

Although a liquid air energy storage system (LAESS) as a cutting-edge system can provide higher energy density, no geographical limitation and relatively low overall cost compared to similar technologies, low round-trip efficiency and immaturity of the technology are its main drawbacks. A new energy process based on a wind farm (WF), a thermodynamic process based on Kalina cycle, and a storage system based on LAESS technology is developed. Kalina cycle is employed to recover waste heat. A part of the thermal energy of the compression process is utilized to produce domestic hot water (DHW). The performance of the integrated process is investigated from the thermo-economic and optimization points of view. Additionally, the conceptual design of the wind farm has been developed for a specific region and according to three different wind turbines. The obtained results indicated that the electric round-trip efficiency and total cost rate of the system can be optimized by 6.7% and 8.4%, respectively, compared to the non-optimization state. It was also found that the payback time of the project under case II (WF+ KC-LAES) based on Enercon wind turbines can be lower by almost 2.34 and 3.43 years, respectively, compared to that Vestas and Windflow wind turbine.