Proposal of an advanced hybrid multigeneration plant using solar energy for sustainable hydrogen generation: A thermodynamic and environmental analysis

Abstract

The newly suggested paper comprehensively delves into the holistic production of sustainable hydrogen, electricity, freshwater, heating, and cooling. This combined study utilizes different systems; solar tower, supercritical CO₂ Brayton cycle (sBC), transcritical CO₂ Rankine cycle with ejector (tRC), organic Rankine cycle (ORC), desalination component (MED), and proton exchange membrane (PEM). The efficiency and sustainability of the recommended cycle are evaluated by thermodynamic and environmental impact assessments. Meanwhile, a parametric investigation is performed to define the impact of the strategy values on the modeled scheme's performance and product rates. The examination results show that the energetic efficiencies of the sBC, tRC, and ORC are 11.81 %, 29.39 %, and 9.19 %, respectively. For the same order, the exergy performance indicators are 24.66 %, 21.75 %, and 33.16 %, respectively. The developed overall system had 38.66 % of energetic performance and 34.14 % of exergetic performance. The cycle's net power generation capability is 8041 kW. Furthermore, out of all of the components of the structure, the solar tower unit had the greatest exergetic destruction rate. The combined plant design is a more environmentally friendly choice than the single energy conversion scheme, based on the results of an environmental analysis.