Solar-Powered Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power Energy System with Phase-Change Material and Water Electrolysis: Thermo-Economic Assessment and Optimization

Abstract

A solar-powered combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) plant integrated with a water electrolysis unit is investigated in terms of energy, exergy, and exergo-economic (3E) assessments. A comprehensive parametric study and optimization is conducted following the thermodynamic and exergo-economic assessment of the proposed system to evaluate the key performance parameters of the system for efficiency and economic factors. This system employs a heliostat field and a receiver tower by taking advantage of thermal energy from the sun and produces a continuous energy supply with an integrated phase-change material (PCM) tank to store the heat. In addition, a supercritical CO2 Rankine cycle (RC), an ejector refrigeration cooling (ERC) system, and a PEM water electrolyzer are coupled to produce cooling, heating, power, and hydrogen. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that the system exergy efficiency and energy efficiency are improved to (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.), respectively, while the total cost rate is (Formula presented.) and the total product cost per exergy unit is (Formula presented.). Additionally, the system produces a net generated power, heating load, and cooling load of (Formula presented.), (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.)   (Formula presented.), respectively, and a hydrogen production rate of 12.95 (Formula presented.). A two-objective optimization approach utilizing a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) was performed, demonstrating that the system’s ideal design point offers a cost rate of (Formula presented.) and an exergetic efficiency of (Formula presented.).