Investigation of a solar-driven multigeneration system for electricity genera-tion, heating, refrigeration, and hydrogen production in a novel configuration

This study explores the use of solar energy to drive a novel multigeneration system that includes, power, heating, cooling, and hydrogen production. The proposed system undergoes a thorough evaluation from three essential perspectives: Energy, Exergy, and Economics. Unlike previous studies, in the proposed system, Ammonia-LiNO3 operated absorption refrigeration cycle is integrated with the Steam Rankine cycle (SRC), organic Rankine cycle (ORC), and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. The influence of climatic conditions; solar flux and ambient temperature is examined on exergy efficiency of sub-systems and the overall system. The system yields a net power generation of 640 kW, a cooling production rate of 425 kW, heating output of 4190 kW, and a hydrogen production rate of 160 kg/hr. These outcomes of sub-systems are associated with cost rate of 6.20 $/hr and pay-back period of 6.02 years at the baseline operation. The proposed multigeneration system achieved energy and exergy efficiencies of 23.31% and 6.25%. The solar flux experiences a positive effect on electricity generation and rate of hydrogen production. The exergy efficiency of sub-systems producing hydrogen, cooling, heating, and elec-tricity generation is obtained as 66.25%, 34.5%, 29.3%, and 69%, respectively, at ambient temperature of 25°C. The exergy efficiency of overall system increases approximately by 65% with increase of ambient temperature from 5 to 40°. Exergy analysis determined tower-solar collector responsible for highest destruction of solar exergy (47.34%), although main energy loss occurs in multigeneration system. The proposed system appears to be superi-or to conventional solar-based multi-carrier energy systems from exergy perspective.