Exergoeconomic Assessment of a Solar Polygeneration Plant
Abstract
This paper shows the results of an exergoeconomic assessment of a solar polygeneration plant. Solar polygeneration plant consists of a concentrated solar power (CSP) type parabolic trough, a multi-effect desalination MED module, a refrigeration absorption module, and process heat module, in order to produce electricity, desalinated water, cooling and process heat respectively. A solar polygeneration plant is justified due to the high demand for the products produced, where a CSP plant produces high residual heat (waste heat) that is possible to leverage through polygeneration. The methodology allows coupling thermodynamic equations and economic relations in order to solve complex systems. Polygeneration plant was evaluated to be installed in Crucero, in northern Chile where the direct normal irradiance reaches values of 3,389 kW h/m2/year. The results indicate that the polygeneration plant has an energy efficiency of 62.8%, an exergy efficiency of 24.5%, products cost rate of 10,713.2 USD / h and a net present value (NPV) of 4.3 MUSD.
Keywords
Csp, Med, Chp, Cooling, Polygeneration, Exergoecononomic, Thermoeconomic.