Thermodynamic Modeling and Analysis of a Solar and Geothermal-driven Multigeneration System Using TiO2 and SiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, renewable energy sources including a high-temperature solar parabolic trough collector and geothermal water integrated with a modified Kalina cycle, a combined ORC-EJR cycle, an electrolyzer, an RO desalination unit, and a domestic water heater. SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles dissolved in Therminol VP1 are applied as the working fluid of the solar collector. A comparative analysis of introduced working fluids is performed from energy, exergy as well as cost analysis point of view to evaluate their efficiencies. Solar irradiation, ambient temperature, and collector inlet temperature were the parameters investigated to discover their effects on energy and exergy efficiency, solar collector outlet temperature, hydrogen production rate, and freshwater production rate. The highest generated outlet temperature of the solar collector outlet was 693.8 K obtained by Therminol VP1/SiO2 nanofluid. The maximum energy and exergy efficiencies of the proposed system were 36.69 % and 17.76 %, respectively. Moreover, it is found that by increasing the solar collector inlet temperature, the hydrogen production rate decreases while the water production rate increases.

Keywords

• geothermal
• kalina cycle
• multigeneration
• nanofluid
• solar collector