Development and analysis of a new renewable energy-based multi-generation system

A renewable energy-based multi-generation system is developed and studied energetically and exergetically. Two renewable sources of energy, biomass and geothermal, are combined to deliver five useful outputs for residential applications. The energy products from biomass sources are used to drive an organic Rankine cycle and a vapour absorption chiller, and further used to dry the wet material in an industrial dryer. A double flash system is used in the geothermal power cycle, which includes a multistage steam turbine. Outlet water flows from the separators and the steam turbine are used to heat water used in households. Liquefied gas is produced through the Linde Hampson liquefaction cycle, in which the compressor is directly coupled to organic Rankine cycle turbine. The energy efficiency of the system is found to be 56.5% and the exergy efficiency 20.3%. The largest exergy destructions are found to occur in both combustion chamber and boiler. The variations in exergy efficiencies and exergy destructions for the system components are determined with respect to changes in the reference-environment temperature and other major system parameters.