| Summary: | Solar energy systems are inherently low performance, and their nature is intermittency. This challenge reduces the performance of the power generation system and reliability. Researchers believe that integrating solar energy systems into coupled cycles with the goal of polygeneration output can mitigate many existing constraints. This paper introduces a new energy process for the production of electricity, thermal energy, and hydrogen fuel, along with the storage of electrical energy. The system is composed of components such as organic Rankine cycle (ORC), parabolic trough collector (PTC), proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and electrolyzer as well as a thermoelectric generator (TEG). Electrical energy storage is also the responsibility of the combined pumped hydro-compressed air (PHCA) technology. Two different scenarios (based on hydrogen fuel and electricity production) are considered for the conceptual design of the proposed system. In both scenarios, the solar collector plays a prominent role in energy production. The introduced system offers a new configuration that has not been reported in previous studies. The conceptual design indicates that the proposed cycle can generate 150 and 183.7 kWh per day of electrical energy under the first and second scenarios, respectively. In addition, in the second scenario, approximately 3.4 kg/day of hydrogen gas is obtained. The results indicate that PHCA should have a size of 119.3 and 26.8 m3, respectively, for the first and second scenarios. Under such conditions, the storage efficiency was approximately equal to 60%. Balancing system design parameters with energy demand are essential. The structure and presentation of the results in the present article are such that they can be easily applied to any amount of energy demand and specific geographical conditions for both assumed scenarios.
|
|---|