Thermodynamic analysis of a multiple energy production system based on geothermal energy for commissioning in Canada and optimization by response surface method (RSM)

Abstract

The thermodynamic analysis of a geothermal-based integrated energy system to produce liquid hydrogen, cooling, hot water, and power was presented in this study. The investigated system was made of geothermal subsystems, a modified organic Rankine cycle (ORC), a PEM electrolyzer, and a liquid hydrogen storage source. Different organic fluids including refrigerants R113, R123, and R134a were investigated to increase the system performance. Analysis of organic fluids showed that the best organic fluid is R123 because it helps to increase the performance of the system. The authors employed the Design-Expert software and RSM for optimum results purposes, and the objective functions were chosen to be exergy efficiency (EE) and cost rate (CR). Following introduction of design variables, the mass flow rate of input to the evaporator, the temperature of input to heat recovery vapor generator, turbine efficiency, turbine input temperature, evaporator pinch point temperature, and pump efficiency, their impact on the system's performance were investigated. The optimal values for EE and CR were ultimately found to be 43.91% and 45.12 $/h, respectively. Also, in this research, seven regions within Canada were investigated for the launch of the proposed system. The studied cities were Victoria, Vancouver, Regina, St. John's, Dawson Creek, Whitehorse, and Port Alberni. Finally, Regina was chosen because of the system’s superior performance in electricity production at a reasonable cost in that area. The environmental results showed that the presented energy system in Regina city could help to expand 5 hectares of green space by producing electricity at the rate of 4993.03 MWh in one year. The findings indicated that implementing the suggested system in Regina would help prevent 1018.6 tons of CO2/MWh from being emitted into the environment yearly, only by chipping in 24445.9 $/ton of CO2 per year.