Advanced Exergy, Exergoeconomic, and Exergoenvironmental Analyses of Integrated Solar-Assisted Gasification Cycle for Producing Power and Steam from Heavy Refinery Fuels

Esmaeil Jadidi, Mohammad Hasan Khoshgoftar Manesh, Mostafa Delpisheh and Viviani Caroline Onishi
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Esmaeil Jadidi: Energy, Environmental and Biological Systems Research Lab (EEBRlab), Division of Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, University of Qom, Qom 3716146611, Iran
Mohammad Hasan Khoshgoftar Manesh: Energy, Environmental and Biological Systems Research Lab (EEBRlab), Division of Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, University of Qom, Qom 3716146611, Iran
Mostafa Delpisheh: Energy, Environmental and Biological Systems Research Lab (EEBRlab), Division of Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, University of Qom, Qom 3716146611, Iran
Viviani Caroline Onishi: School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-29

Abstract: Integrated solar-assisted gasification cycles (ISGC) have emerged as a more flexible and environmentally friendly solution for producing power, steam, and other high-valued by-products from low-cost opportunity fuels. In this light, this paper investigates a new ISGC system for converting heavy refineries fuels into power and steam utilities while enhancing energy efficiency and economic and environmental performance indicators. In this approach, a solar energy field and a two-pressure heat recovery steam generator were integrated into the ISGC system to improve overall economic and environmental plant viability. The ISGC system was modelled in MATLAB software, and the results were validated using Thermoflex software. Conventional and advanced energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental (4E) analyses were implemented to assess the main performance parameters and identify potential system improvements. The ISGC system produced 319.92 MW of power by feeding on 15.5 kg/s of heavy refinery fuel, with a thermal efficiency of 50% and exergy efficiency of 54%. The results also revealed an investment cost of $466 million, evaluated at a system cost rate of 446 $/min and an environmental impact rate of 72,796 pts/min. The conventional and advanced 4E analyses unveiled the process economic and environmental feasibilities, particularly for oil-rich countries with high availability of solar resources.

Keywords: solar-aided gasification cycles; heavy refinery fuels; energy and exergy analysis; 4E analyses; integrated economic and environmental analyses; energy recovery systems; renewable energy (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 (4)

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