Research on a Solar Hybrid Trigeneration System Based on Exergy and Exergoenvironmental Assessments

Eduardo J. C. Cavalcanti, João Victor M. Ferreira and Monica Carvalho
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Eduardo J. C. Cavalcanti: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59072-970, Brazil
João Victor M. Ferreira: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59072-970, Brazil
Monica Carvalho: Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: The environmental performance of a combined cooling, heating, and power system is analyzed in this study at a component-level using a SPECO-based exergoenvironmental analysis. The engine consumes natural gas and produces 168.6 kW net power. The waste heat is recovered by a LiBr-H 2 O absorption chiller and a heat exchanger, which are used for cooling and heating purposes. The energy system is assisted by a solar field. An environmental Life Cycle Assessment quantifies the environmental impacts of the system, and these data are combined with exergy evaluations. The highest total environmental impact rate, 23,740.16 mPt/h, is related to the internal combustion engine, of which pollutant formation is the primary source of environmental impact. Compared with a non-renewable energy system, the solar-assisted trigeneration system decreased the environmental impact per exergy unit of chilled water by 10.99%. Exergoenvironmental performance can be further improved by enhancing the exergy efficiency of the solution pump and high-pressure generator (HG), and by employing a treatment to remove nitrogen oxides in the reciprocating engine.

Keywords: exergy; exergoenvironmental analysis; trigeneration; life cycle assessment; environmental impacts; Eco-indicator 99 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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