Performance Analysis of an Innovative ORC-based Micro-scale CCHP System under Lebanese Conditions

Abstract

Considering the high demand for cooling, heating and electricity and with more than 300 annual sunny days, an innovative hybrid biomass-solar driven micro-scale tri-generation system is proposed to provide cooling, heating and electricity under Lebanese conditions. The system comprises an organic Rankine cycle-based combined heat and power unit, a liquid desiccant dehumidification unit and a dew point evaporative cooling unit. A complete technical, economic and environmental assessment of the tri-generation system is performed to assess its applicability and feasibility. Employing a 2 kWe ORC-based CHP unit, the useful heat output ranges between 4.2 and 11.75 kW, with an electric power capacity between 0.7 and 1.92 kW. The maximum hourly cooling capacity delivered by the coupled cooling and dehumidification system is attained in August with 8.7 kW. The tri-generation system allows annual savings of 8225 USD on the heating bill, 960 USD on the electricity bill and 950 USD on the cooling bill compared to conventional production technologies. In addition, the CO₂ emissions reduction ranges between 3.1 tons in June and 9.2 tons in March. The results of this study demonstrate the large potential of using such tri-generation systems under the Lebanese conditions compared to the conventional separate energy production technologies. 

Keywords

• Micro-scale tri-generation system,Organic Rankine cycle,Evaporative cooling,Liquid desiccant dehumidification,Techno-economic and environmental analysis

References

1. Li Shao
2. Nesreen Ghaddar
3. Clito Afonso