Thermal analysis of multigeneration system using geothermal energy as its main power source

The study presented in this paper examines the operation of an integrated system. The study aims to present a method for utilizing geothermal energy in a way that minimizes energy waste and delivers maximum efficiency. A high-temperature geothermal well with a temperature of 300 degrees C is used as its primary source of energy. The system produces space heating, space cooling, electric power, hot water, freshwater and hydrogen as its outputs. These outputs utilize the excess energy that is obtained from the geothermal well, and by doing so, reduces waste, and increases the overall efficiency of the system. Among these outputs, freshwater and hydrogen are considered the most valuable, as water is an essential life resource and hydrogen is a prized form of energy. The novelty of this system compared to other geothermal sources is that it does not rely on any other source of input energy. It produces both freshwater, hydrogen and considerable amounts of electric power for commercial, industrial and/or residential use. Electric power is produced by two power cycles; the first one is a double flash steam cycle in the geothermal system and the second one is an organic Rankine cycle. 40% of the total electric power produced is sent to an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen gas. Freshwater is produced by single flash desalination. The system produces 22.1 MW of power as net electricity output. The system is assessed energetically and exergetically; it is found that the energy efficiency is 49.1%, while the exergy efficiency is 67.9%. Further parametric studies are carried out using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) to investigate the influence of operating conditions on the energy and exergy of the system. Moreover, major exergy destruction areas in the system are also identified. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.