Performance assessment of a novel power generation system

Abstract

Abstract This paper introduces a novel power generation system using solar energy as a heat source. The proposed cycle incorporates heat sources from two solar collectors for the effective utilisation of heat energy. To aid the performance of the proposed system, the turbine flow rate is increased with the specific heater arrangements. Energy and exergy balances of the novel system were generated using Python software. The investigation of the present system was evaluated with high sink temperature. Turbine inlet concentration, turbine inlet pressure, HE4 outlet temperature from the turbine, condenser concentration of ammonia, isentropic efficiency of the turbine and pressure ratio are the design variables considered for the exergy and thermoeconomic investigation. The energy and exergy analyses resulted in suitable design variables to optimise the performance. The optimum Kalina cycle efficiency, solar plant efficiency, exergy efficiency and network output were determined to be 18.51%, 8.28%, 34.51% and 295.24 kW, respectively. Among the components involved in the system, the mixers account for the highest exergy destruction followed by the turbine. The cycle performance can be improved by reducing the exergy destruction rate. The thermal efficiency is maximised by the turbine inlet pressure and temperature. Moreover, a higher relative cost difference has resulted in heat exchanger 5 and pump 2.

Keywords

• Industrial processes
• Heat and thermodynamic processes (mechanical engineering)