Thermodynamic performance analysis and optimization of a trigeneration system with different configurations applied to a medium-sized hospital

Thalyta S.A. Santiago, Ana Elisa Achiles and José Vicente H. Dangelo

Energy, 2022, vol. 239, issue PC

Abstract: A trigeneration system known as combined cooling, heating, and power is well-known for producing these utilities using a single energy source. This thermal integration is responsible for improving energetic and exergetic efficiencies, reducing CO2 emissions as well. This work aimed at a parametric analysis and an optimization of the thermodynamic performance of a trigeneration system operating under four different configurations applied to a medium-sized hospital. These configurations differ from each other by the position where a second power cycle (an organic Rankine cycle - ORC) was included and by the season group (spring/summer or autumn/winter). The ORC is used due to its capability of processing waste heat more efficiently, consequently increasing the plant power generation. Selected ORC working fluids were pentane (R601) and 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (R141b) when the ORC was placed before and after the absorption refrigeration system, respectively. The thermodynamic performance of these configurations was evaluated considering both energetic and exergetic approaches through a parametric investigation (varying inlet pressure in turbines and pinch point temperature in the heat exchanger) and finally an optimization procedure was conducted. The energetic efficiency of the best configuration of the trigeneration integrated with an ORC was approximately 81% while exergetic efficiency was around 42%.

Keywords: Trigeneration; Organic rankine cycle; Parametric analysis; Optimization; R601; R141b (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:239:y:2022:i:pc:s0360544221024439

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122195

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