Optimization of a Solar-Driven Trigeneration System with Nanofluid-Based Parabolic Trough Collectors

Evangelos Bellos and Christos Tzivanidis
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Evangelos Bellos: Solar Energy Laboratory, Thermal Department, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Athens 15780, Greece
Christos Tzivanidis: Solar Energy Laboratory, Thermal Department, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Athens 15780, Greece

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-31

Abstract: The objective of this work was to optimize and to evaluate a solar-driven trigeneration system which operates with nanofluid-based parabolic trough collectors. The trigeneration system includes an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and an absorption heat pump operating with LiBr-H 2 O which is powered by the rejected heat of the ORC. Toluene, n -octane, Octamethyltrisiloxane (MDM) and cyclohexane are the examined working fluids in the ORC. The use of CuO and Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles in the Syltherm 800 (base fluid) is investigated in the solar field loop. The analysis is performed with Engineering Equation Solver (EES) under steady state conditions in order to give the emphasis in the exergetic optimization of the system. Except for the different working fluid investigation, the system is optimized by examining three basic operating parameters in all the cases. The pressure in the turbine inlet, the temperature in the ORC condenser and the nanofluid concentration are the optimization variables. According to the final results, the combination of toluene in the ORC with the CuO nanofluid is the optimum choice. The global maximum exergetic efficiency is 24.66% with pressure ratio is equal to 0.7605, heat rejection temperature 113.7 °C and CuO concentration 4.35%.

Keywords: solar energy; trigeneration; organic Rankine cycle (ORC); absorption heat pump; heat transformer; nanofluids; parabolic trough collector (PTC); optimization; LiBr-H 2 O; exergy (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: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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