Developing of an integrated hybrid power generation system combined with a multi-effect desalination unit

• Published in: Sustainable energy technologies and assessments 2019-04, Vol.32, p.71-82
• Main Authors: Moradi, M., Ghorbani, B., Shirmohammadi, R., Mehrpooya, M., Hamedi, M.-H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: HRSG; Integration; Multi effect distillation; Solid oxide fuel cell; Stirling
• ISSN: 2213-1388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seta.2019.02.002

•Developing of hybrid system for power generation and sweet water production.•Utilizing of outlet gases of solid oxide fuel cell for using in Stirling engine.•Recovering of Stirling engine outlet gases for providing steam of desalination.•Conducting of sensitivity analysis for the hybrid energy system. An integrated hybrid power generation system combined with a water multi-effect desalination system is herein developed for simultaneous power generation and thermal waste recovery. A heat recovery steam generator is employed for steam generation using outlet thermal energy from the system. Next the generated steam enters into a multi-stage desalination system for producing fresh water. The fuel cell over-potential and gained voltage are obtained using operating conditions, flow rate and electrochemical modeling of the fuel cell. By adding a Stirling engine, the power output is increased to 2.63 kW and the system efficiency is increased by 11.7%. Fresh water is produced by 143.64 kg/h using the recovered energy of the system. In the following, the performance of the system is being analyzed in terms of important variables of the system. The results show that by increasing the temperature of the fuel cell up to 100 °C, the power and efficiency of the fuel cell increase by 2 kW and 1.8%, respectively. Additionally, the amount of produced fresh water is increased up to 65% with the number of desalination stages from 4 to 6 stages.