Integrating an innovative geothermal-driven multigeneration approach and LNG cold energy utilization process for sustainable energy supply, producing hydrogen, power, heating, and cooling

This study presents a novel integrated process using geothermal energy for a multigeneration energy supply program. The use of an environmentally friendly cascade heat recovery technology for the geothermal energy utilization process in integration with a LNG cold energy utilization unit to reduce the exergy destruction in a zero-emission framework is the primary innovative aspect of the current research. Therefore, for the system in question, there are four functional elements: an LNG utilization subsystem, a water electrolyzer, a single-effect chiller and a single-flash geothermal binary power plant. Hence, it is shown that under the specified operating conditions, the process can produce hydrogen, thermal energy, refrigeration as well as electrical energy. Performance of the system is assessed through simulative appraisal performance as well as conducting energetic, exergetic, economic and environmental studies with the help of the Aspen HYSYS software. Subsequently, critical operating parameters' influence on performance variables' behavior is investigated. According to the simulation, a total of 30.24 kg/h of hydrogen, 3860 kW of power, 1717 kW of cooling, and 8939 kW of heating can be generated. The evaluations considered show that the plant operates with energy and exergy efficiencies of 47.66 % and 83.22 % respectively. Moreover, the overall cost of the project and the amount of economic evaluation give the total specific cost as 288 $/h and 14.20$/GJ respectively.