Thermodynamic analysis of solar powered trigeneration arrangement for cooling, power and drinking water generation

Abstract

Solar-driven trigeneration system is a most sustainable energy production technique. It produces valuable energy in the forms of heating, cooling, and power generation. Therefore, it meets the energy demands of a residential complex or of smallscale industries. This paper presents a solar-driven trigeneration system for power, cooling, and freshwater generation through a unit of humidification dehumidification desalination under various thermodynamic criteria. The trigeneration system consists of a parabolic trough collector, a storage tank, an organic Rankine cycle for power generation, a vapor absorption refrigeration system for producing a cooling effect, and a humidification and dehumidification desalination unit for producing fresh water. The average work output for the R-123 fluid was 2866.6 kJ, whereas for R-134a it was 2883.275 kJ. The present study had an average production of freshwater of about 157 kg per day from the proposed trigeneration system.

Keywords

• solar energy
• parabolic trough collector
• trigeneration
• desalination
• organic rankine cycle