Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Parametric thermodynamic analysis and economic assessment of a novel solar heliostat-molten carbonate fuel cell system for electricity and fresh water production

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With the ever-rising paces of fuel consumption and CO2 emission, the urge for renewable energy resources is becoming a challenge in today’s world; especially for Iran that has started to reduce its fuel subsidies. The need for electricity and fresh water in the southern coastal regions of the country is increasing with the increase in the population. The high solar radiation level in the region is a promising alternative to mitigate the fuel consumption of the conventional power or desalination plants by the solar thermal source through the concentrated solar technology. In addition, the CO2 emission of the aforementioned plants significantly diminishes by using the molten carbonate fuel cell that is suitable for the CO2 capture. Furthermore, the combination of different power and water technologies, which are operating at different temperatures and pressures, leads to enhance the overall efficiency of the integrated systems. To this end, a novel integrated power/water plant comprising a solar tower, a molten carbonate fuel cell, a gas turbine, a solar Rankine cycle, an organic Rankine cycle, a multi-effect distillation, and reverse osmosis desalination was techno-economically investigated. The multi-objective genetic algorithm was used to find the optimum configuration of the system with the low amount of CO2 emissions, and low unit costs of the electricity and fresh water. The results showed that the most effective parameter on system performance is the operating pressure of the molten carbonate fuel cell. For the optimum configurations of the system, the electricity unit of the cost was found as a value between 0.022 and 0.025 $/kWh. Part of the electricity unit of the cost that is associated with the output power that is generated based on solar thermal energy was obtained as a value between 0.08 and 0.092 $/kWh. In addition, the average unit cost of fresh water was obtained as 1.21 $/m3. The payback period of the system was obtained as 10.44 years if the electricity and fresh water are sold as 0.023 $/kWh and 1.21 $/m3. This can be reduced to 2.88 years for the electricity and fresh water selling prices of 0.069 $/kWh and 1.40 $/m3, respectively. Based on the results, the system with the solar thermal resource will be economically justifiable if the fuel price is increased.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AB:

after burner

Ah:

heliostat area

CC:

combined cycle

Ch:

heliostat concentration

CRF:

capital recovery factor

CSP:

concentrated solar power

DC:

direct cost

DNI:

direct normal irradiance (W/m2)

EG:

annual electricity generation (kWh/yr)

FC:

fuel cell

GT:

gas turbine

HRSG:

heat recovery steam generator

ID:

indirect cost

ISCCs:

integrated solar combined cycle power plant

LCOE:

levelized cost of electricity, $/kWh

LCOW:

levelized cost of water, $/m3

LF:

linear Fresnel

MCFC:

molten carbonate fuel cell

MED:

multi effect distillation

MOEA:

multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithms

NGB:

natural gas boiler

ORC:

organic Rankine cycle

PEMFC:

proton exchange membrane fuel cell

P max :

SRC maximum pressure

PV:

photovoltaic modules

PTC:

parabolic trough

RO:

reverse osmosis

SGSS:

steam generation subsystem

SPB:

simple payback time

SMP:

specific market price

SOFC:

solid oxide fuel cell

SRC:

steam Rankine cycle

ST:

solar tower

TES:

thermal energy storage

TVC:

thermal vapor compression

a:

diode ideality factor

Gn :

surface irradiance at standard test (W/m2)

i:

interest rate

k:

Boltzmann constant

Kv :

open circuit voltage temperature coefficient

q:

Electron charge

Ru :

Universal gas constant

References

  • Ahmadi R, Pourfatemi SM, Ghaffari S (2017) Exergo economic optimization of hybrid system of GT, SOFC and MED implementing genetic algorithm. Desalination 411:76–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arsalis A, Von Spakovsky MR, Calise F (2009) Thermoeconomic modeling and parametric study of hybrid solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine-steam turbine power plants ranging from 1.5MWe to 10MWe. J Fuel Cell Sci Technol 6(1):011015–011027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2009) Optimal sizing of stand alone (Photovoltaic/Battery) power systems in a remote region in Kerman, Iran. Proc IMechE, Part A: J Power Energy 223:563–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2011a) Thechno-economic feasibility analysis of stand-alone renewable energy systems (PV/bat, wind/bat and hybrid PV/wind/bat) in Kerman, Iran. Energy Sources B: Econ Plan Pol 3:357–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2011b) Effect of fuel price on economic analysis of hybrid (photovoltaic/diesel/battery) systems in Iran. Energy Sources Part B: Econ Plan Policy 11:357–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2016) Techno economic feasibility analysis of MED/TVC desalination unit powered by linear fresnel solar field direct steam. Desalination 394:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2017) The application of linear Fresnel and parabolic trough solar fields as thermal source to produce electricity and fresh water. Desalination 415:90–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2018a) Solar Rankin Cycle (SRC) Powered by linear fresnel solar field and integrated with combined MED desalination system. Renew Energy 117:52–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2018b) Combined linear Fresnel solar Rankine cycle with multi effect desalination (MED) process: effect of solar DNI level on the electricity and water production cost. Desalin Water Treat 126:97–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M (2021) A techno-economic review of Multi Effect Desalination (MED) systems and solar thermal source/MED plants. Appl Therm Eng 185(2021):116323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Oukati Sadegh M, Ameri M (2014) Effect of heat storage and fuel price on energy management and economics of micro CCHP cogeneration systems. J Mech Sci Technol 28:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Oukati Sadegh M, Ameri M (2015) Energy Management and Economics of a Trigeneration System: Considering the Effect of Solar PV, Solar collector and Fuel Price. Energy Sustain Develop 26:43–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baniasad Askari I, Ameri M, Calise F (2018c) Energy, exergy and exergo-economic analysis of different water desalination technologies powered by Linear Fresnel solar field. Desalination 428:37–67

  • Baniasad Askari I, Calise F, Vicidomini M (2019) Design and comparative techno-economic analysis of two solar polygeneration systems applied for electricity, cooling and fresh. Energies 12(22):4401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baranak M, Atakül H (2007) A basic model for analysis of molten carbonate fuel cell behavior. J Power Sources 172(2):831–839

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calise F, Accadia MD, Macaluso A, Piacentino A, Vanoli L (2016) Exergetic and exergue conomic analysis of a novel hybrid solar–geothermal poly generation system producing energy and water. Energy Convers Manag 115:200–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calise F, Macaluso A, Piacentino A, Vanoli L (2017) A novel hybrid poly generation system supplying energy and desalinated water by renewable sources in Pantelleria Island. Energy 137:1086–1106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Çengel, Yunus A (2008) Thermodynamics: an Engineering Approach. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Boston

  • Chan SH, HoH K, Tian Y (2002) Modelling of simple hybrid solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine power plant. J Power Sources 109:111–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi JH, Ahn JH, Kim TS (2014) Performance of a triple power generation cycle combining gas/steam turbine combined cycle and solid oxide fuel cell and the influence of carbon capture. Appl Therm Eng 71:301–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiNenno PhJ, Drysdale D, Beyler CL, Walton WD, Custer RLP, Hall JR, Watts JM (2002) SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, Third Edition, National Fire Protection Association

  • El-Emam RS, Dincer I (2018) Development and assessment of a novel solar heliostat based multigeneration system. Int J Hydrog Energy 43:2610–2620

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fichtner and DLR (2011) MENA Regional Water Outlook, Part II, Desalination Using Renewable Energy, Task 1—Desalination Potential; Task 2—Energy Requirements; Task 3—Concentrate Management: http://www.dlr.de/tt/Portaldata/41/Resources/dokumente/institut/system/projects/MENA_REGIONAL_WATER_ OUTLOOK.pdf

  • Fonseca CM, Fleming PJ (1998) Multi objective optimization and multiple constraint handling with evolutionary algorithms _ Part I: a unified formulation. IEEE Transact Syst Man Cyber 28:26–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franchini G, Perdichizzi A, Ravelli S, Barigozzi G (2013) A comparative study between parabolic trough and solar tower technologies in Solar Rankine Cycle and Integrated Solar Combined Cycle plants. Sol Energy 98:302–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganapathy V (1990) Simplify heat recovery steam generator evaluation, ABCO Industries, Abilene, Texas, Hydrocarbon Processing

  • Gomez-Hernandez J, Gonzales-Gomez PA, Briongos JV, Santana D (2018) Influence of the steam generator on the exergetic and exergo economic analysis of solar tower plants. Energy 145:313–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorjian S, Ghobadian B, Tavakkoli Hashjin T, Banakar A (2014) Experimental performance evaluation of a stand-alone point-focus parabolic solar still. Desalination 352:1–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gude VG (2011) Energy consumption and recovery in reverse osmosis. Desalin Water Treat 36:239–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedberg G, Hamilton R, McLarty D (2020) Design and performance analysis of a de-coupled solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine hybrid. Int J Hydrog Energy 45:30980–330993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang C, Pan Y, Wang Y, Su G, Chen J (2016) An efficient hybrid system using a thermionic generator to harvest waste heat from are forming molten carbonate fuel cell. Energy Convers Manag 121:186–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iran fuel consumption (2019) http://www.iran-daily.com/News/211576.html

  • Javadpour A, Jahanshahi Javaran E, Lari K, Baniasad Askari I (2019) Techno-economic analysis of combined gas turbine, MED and RO desalination systems to produce electricity and drinkable water. Desalin Water Treat 159:232–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kouta A, Al-Sulaiman F, Atif M, Bin Marshad S (2016) Entropy, exergy, and cost analyses of solar driven cogeneration systems using supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles and MEE-TVC desalination system. Energy Convers Manag 115:253–264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leiva-Illanes R, Escobar R, Cardemil MJ, Alarcón-Padilla DC (2017) Thermo economic assessment of a solar polygeneration plant for electricity, water, cooling and heating in high direct normal irradiation conditions. Energy Convers Manag 151:538–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Kong W, Wang Z, Chang C, Bai F (2010) Thermal model and thermodynamic performance of molten salt cavity receiver. Renew Energy 35:981–988

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loutatidou S, Arafat HA (2015) Techno-economic analysis of MED and RO desalination powered by low-enthalpy geothermal energy. Desalination 365:277–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mamaghani AH, Najafi B, Shirazi A, Rinaldi F (2015) 4E analysis and multi-objective optimization of an integrated MCFC (molten carbonate fuel cell) and ORC (organic Rankine cycle) system. Energy 82:650–663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McTigue JD, Castro J, Mungas G, Kramer N, King J, Turchi C, Zhua G (2018) Hybridizing a geothermal power plant with concentrating solar power and thermal storage to increase power generation and dispatchability. Appl Energy 228:1837–1852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratlamwala TAH, Dincer I, Aydin M (2012) Energy and exergy analyses and optimization study of an integrated solar heliostat field system for hydrogen production. Int J Hydrog Energy 37:18704–18712

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rezaei A, Naserbeagi A, Alahyarizadeh G, Aghaei M (2017) Economic evaluation of Qeshm island MED-desalination plant coupling with different energy sources including fossils and nuclear power plants. Desalination 422:101–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi S, Baniasad Askari I (2019) Prefeasibility techno-economic assessment of a hybrid power plant with photovoltaic, fuel cell and Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES). Energy 168:409–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuster A, Karellas S, Kakaras E, Spliethoff H (2009) Energetic and economic investigation of Organic Rankine Cycle applications. Appl Therm Eng 29:1809–1817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shahin MS, Orhan MF, Uygul F (2016) Thermodynamic analysis of parabolic trough and heliostat field solar collectors integrated with a Rankine cycle for cogeneration of electricity and heat. Sol Energy 136:183–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqui O, Dincer I (2018) Examination of a new solar-based integrated system for desalination, electricity generation and hydrogen production. Sol Energy 163:224–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siebers DL and Kraabel JS (1984) Estimating convective energy losses from solar central receivers, Sandia National Laboratories, United States Department of Energy

  • Singh R, Singh O (2018) Comparative study of combined solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine-Organic Rankine cycle for different working fluid in bottoming cycle. Energy Convers Manag 171:659–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turchi C, Mehos M, Ho CK, Kolb GJ (2010) Current and future costs for parabolic trough and power tower systems in the US market, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Center (EPA) (2016) Greenhouse Gas Inventory Guidance Direct Emissions from Stationary Combustion Sources, available at: file:///D:/1HDH/ABsorption_Sol_Des/Poly_Generation_Figures/NGB/stationaryemissions_3_2016.pdf

  • Wang X, Liua Q, Bai Z, Lei J, Jin H (2018) Thermodynamic investigations of the supercritical CO2 system with solar energy and biomass. Appl Energy 227:108–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wellmann J, Meyer-Kahlen B, Morosuk T (2018) Exergo economic evaluation of a CSP plant in combination with a desalination unit. Renew Energy 128(2018):586–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu C, Wang Z, Li X, Sun F (2011) Energy and exergy analysis of solar power tower plants. Appl Therm Eng 31:3904–3913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yi JH, Choi JH, Kim TS (2016) Comparative evaluation of viable options for combining a gas turbine and a solid oxide fuel cell for high performance. Appl Therm Eng 100:840–848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zavoico AB (2001) Solar Power Tower Design Basis Document. Sandia National Laboratories, San Francisco

  • Zurita A, Mata-Torres C, Cardemil GM, Escobar RA (2020) Assessment of time resolution impact on the modeling of a hybrid CSP-PV plant: A case of study in Chile. Sol Energy 202(2020):553–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical and material Engineering, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran

    Saber Sadeghi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

    Ighball Baniasad Askari

Authors
  1. Saber Sadeghi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ighball Baniasad Askari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Formal analysis, software, validation, and investigation were performed by Saber Sadeghi. Writing the first draft of the manuscript, methodology, investigation, and visualization were performed by Ighball Baniasad Askari and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ighball Baniasad Askari.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Fig. 21
figure 21figure 21

The flowchart of computer program used to calculate the hybrid system calculations

Full size image

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sadeghi, ., Askari, I.B. Parametric thermodynamic analysis and economic assessment of a novel solar heliostat-molten carbonate fuel cell system for electricity and fresh water production. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 5469–5495 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16035-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16035-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation