Towards sustainable development through the design, multi-aspect analyses, and multi-objective optimization of a novel solar-based multi-generation system

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2023-03, Vol.267, p.126507, Article 126507
• Main Authors: Chen, Heng, Alzahrani, Huda A., Amin, Mohammed A., Sun, Minghui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dual-pressure organic rankine cycle; Ejector refrigeration cycle; Multi-objective optimization; Net present value; Parabolic trough solar collector; Zeotropic mixture
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.126507

This paper proposes a novel combination of ejector refrigeration and dual-pressure organic Rankine cycles driven by a parabolic trough solar collector. Six zeotropic mixtures are considered the proposed system's working fluid, and their performance is compared, leading to the Hexane/Pentane selection. The thermodynamic and economic analyses are applied to estimate the system's performance. The proposed system provides 11.6 MW net power, 3.21 MW cooling capacity, and 40.22 kg s−1 freshwater, with 10.59% energetic and 7.64% exergetic efficiencies. Also, the payback period is calculated at about 5.55 years with 36.27 M$ net profit at the base condition. A parametric study has been performed to study the effect of zeotropic mixture mass fraction variation with the ejector's primary and secondary flows pressure ratio, and vapor generators' evaporation temperatures change on the cooling capacity, net out power, and energetic and exergetic efficiencies. The parametric study results reveal that the zeotropic mixture's mass fraction consists of the highest effect on the net power production and exergetic efficiency. Also, the second vapor generator's evaporation temperature affects the cooling capacity and energy efficiency. Furthermore, multi-objective optimization is applied to the proposed system, obtaining the total exergetic efficiency and payback period of 7.8% and 5.38 years. •An innovative solar energy-based multi-generation system is proposed.•The system is designed for simultaneous power, cooling, and freshwater production.•Zeotropic mixtures are employed for the performance improvement.•The system yielded 11.6 MW power, 3.21 MW cooling load, and 40.22 kg s−1 freshwater.•The energy and exergy efficiencies are obtained to be 10.59% and 7.64%, respectively.