Thermodynamic performance analysis of a copper–chlorine thermochemical cycle and biomass based combined plant for multigeneration

Abstract

The primary objective of this work is to investigate a comprehensive thermodynamic assessment of the biomass-assisted multigeneration plant for electrical energy, hydrogen, heating-cooling, drying, and hot water production. The suggested multigeneration plant includes the biomass gasification process, Brayton cycle, Kalina cycle, organic Rankine cycle, and cascade refrigeration plant, which is to produce heating and cooling loads, drying system, hydrogen generation with copper–chlorine thermochemical process, and hydrogen liquefaction process. Based on the thermodynamic laws, the total irreversibility rate and performance assessment of the examined study is conducted. Moreover, the impact of various factors such as reference temperature, biomass gasifier temperature, and mass flow rate of biofuel, on the effectiveness and useful outputs of planned plant are examined. The outcomes of the proposed study show that 18 626, 3948 and 1037 kW electrical energy are generated by using the Brayton, Kalina, and organic Rankine cycle. Furthermore, the total cooling and heating capacities and hydrogen generation rates are 2392, 2864 kW and 0.068 kg s−1. Finally, energetic and exergetic effectiveness of the examined model are calculated as 56.71% and 53.59%.