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Exergetic and economic optimization of a solar-based cogeneration system applicable for desalination and power production

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Abstract

In this research, the optimum situation for the function of a combined cycle power plant (CCPP) which simultaneously generates water and electricity with parabolic solar collectors has been scrutinized. The CCPP includes two gas cycles and one steam cycle in which a multi-stage vapor desalination and a parabolic solar collector have been added. In this stage, first, the thermodynamic cycle of the CCPP has been modeled, and values of exergy and energy in each flow line and the power plant component were determined. Finally, exergy destruction in each section is calculated. For a better assessment of the system, an economic analysis of power plant is performed by using SPECO method. The results revealed that as the number of desalination effect increased from 4 to 8 and the exergy efficiency decreased from 52.7 to 52.4%. Moreover, there was an increase in the cost of electricity generation by 12%, and the interest rate of freshwater production increased from 6 to 12 due to the increase in the number of effects. The power plant optimization results show that the exergy efficiency increases to 53.62%, which indicates a growth of 1.74%.

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Abbreviations

c :

Cost per exergy unit ($ (MJ)−1)

c f :

Cost of fuel per energy unit ($ (MJ)−1)

\(\dot{C}\) :

Cost flow rate ($ s−1)

c p :

Specific heat at constant pressure (kJ kg−1 K−1)

CRF:

Capital recovery factor

\(\dot{{\rm Ex}}\) :

Exergy flow rate (MW)

\({\dot{{\rm Ex}}}_{\rm D}\) :

Exergy destruction rate (MW)

ex:

Specific exergy (kJ kg−1)

i :

Annual interest rate (%)

h :

Specific enthalpy (kJ kg−1)

h 0 :

Specific enthalpy at environmental state (kJ kg−1)

LHV:

Lower heating value (kJ kg−1)

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

n :

Number of years

N :

Number of hours of plant operation per year

PP:

Pinch point

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Heat transfer rate (kW)

\(r_{\text{AC}}\) :

Compressor pressure ratio

\(s\) :

Specific entropy (kJ kg−1 K−1)

\(s_{0}\) :

Specific entropy at environmental state (kJ kg−1 K−1)

\(\dot{W}_{\text{net}}\) :

Net power output (MW)

\(Z\) :

Capital cost of a component ($)

\(\dot{Z}\) :

Capital cost rate ($ s−1)

\(\eta\) :

Isentropic efficiency

\(\xi\) :

Coefficient of fuel chemical exergy

\(\varPhi\) :

Maintenance factor

a:

Air

AC:

Air compressor

CC:

Combustion chamber

CCPP:

Combined cycle power plant

ch:

Chemical

Cond:

Condenser

COE:

Cost of electricity

GT:

Gas turbine

HP:

High pressure

HRSG:

Heat recovery steam generator

IAM:

Incidence angle modifier

LP:

Low pressure

MED:

Multi-effect distillation

MSF:

Multi-stage flash

ph:

Physical

ST:

Steam turbine

SWRO:

Sea water reverse osmosis

TVC:

Thermal vapor compression

w:

Water

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Ramin Ghasemiasl & Mohammad Amin Javadi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Nezamabadi

  3. Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Mohsen Sharifpur

  4. Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam

    Mohsen Sharifpur

Authors
  1. Ramin Ghasemiasl
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  2. Mohammad Amin Javadi
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  3. Morteza Nezamabadi
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  4. Mohsen Sharifpur
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Correspondence to Mohammad Amin Javadi or Mohsen Sharifpur.

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Ghasemiasl, R., Javadi, M.A., Nezamabadi, M. et al. Exergetic and economic optimization of a solar-based cogeneration system applicable for desalination and power production. J Therm Anal Calorim 145, 993–1003 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10242-8

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