Performance analysis and optimization of a solar-powered system for power and cooling cogeneration

Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to mitigate environmental challenges has become a priority for sustainable development. This study explores the multi-aspect performance of a solar-powered cogeneration system designed for simultaneous power and cooling production. The proposed configuration integrates a parabolic trough solar collector with a supercritical CO2 unit, an ejector refrigeration cycle, a modified organic flash cycle, and an organic Rankine cycle. The system generates a net output power of 15.6 MW and a cooling load of 3.40 MW, achieving respective energetic and exergetic efficiencies of 18.28 % and 16.35 %. Economic analysis reveals a total product cost rate of 1468.95 $/h, with a payback period of 4.82 years, while environmental evaluation reports an exergoenvironmental impact rate of 191.34 Pts/h. Parametric and sensitivity analyses highlight critical design variables, leading to an optimization process using a multi-objective particle swarm optimizer. Scenario I improves system performance with a net power output of 16.3 MW, reducing the exergoenvironmental impact rate to 167.86 Pts/h and the total product cost rate to 1268.55 $/h. Scenario II achieves a net power output of 15.65 MW, enhances the exergetic efficiency to 16.42 %, and increases the cooling load to 3.75 MW. These results confirm the system's superior thermodynamic performance, economic viability, and environmental sustainability.