Techno-economic feasibility and environmental impact evaluation of a hybrid solar thermal membrane-based power desalination system

Mohammad Moosazadeh, Shahzeb Tariq, Usman Safder and ChangKyoo Yoo

Energy, 2023, vol. 278, issue PA

Abstract: The present study investigates the performance of a hybrid solar thermal membrane-based multigeneration system for generating power, cooling, heating, and water. The integrated arrangement consists of organic Rankine cycle (ORC), Kalina cycle (KC), ammonia-water refrigeration, Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and forward osmosis (FO). A comprehensive multicriteria assessment of energy, exergy, economic, environmental, and emergy (5 E) is conducted to ensure a systematic examination. The results indicate that the allocation of R113 in the ORC yielded the highest exergetic efficiency and energy cost of 46.61% and 0.08109 $/kWh, respectively. Additionally, the system achieved the lowest environmental impact of 1694 mPts.h−1 when employing R718. The utilization of rejected water–ammonia in the PRO and FO modules achieves a reasonable power density and water flux of 17.5 W m−2 and 67.94 l m−2h−1, respectively. Finally, emergy-based sustainability analysis revealed that the proposed system obtains a sustainability index of 0.73, which is greater than that of the fossil fuel-based power generation systems. Comparison of three considered scenarios based on emergy and economic analysis demonstrated that fossil fuel driven system is not providing sustainable products even with a 72.3% decrease in initial capital cost. For further improvements, we highlight several areas for additional research and provide recommendations for existing solar- and membrane-driven systems.

Keywords: Emergy assessment; Multigeneration system; Pressure-retarded osmosis; Solar thermal; Sustainability analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:278:y:2023:i:pa:s0360544223013178

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127923

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