A proposed configuration of biomass based combined power and cooling plant and its 6E analyses. (1st March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chowdhury, S.; Mondal, P.; Ghosh, S.
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 279(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03-01
• Subjects: Biomass gasification -- Combined power and cooling -- Exergo-economic -- Exergo-environmental -- 6E analyses; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Highlights: Biomass steam gasification based combined power & cooling plant modelled. Plant delivers gross power of 100 kW and cooling effect in the range 15–60 kW. 6E assessment done, including exergo-economic and exergo-environment. Overall exergetic efficiency for cogeneration plant found to be 26.64 %. Effective electricity price is 0.064 USD/kWh and discounted payback period of 8.5 years. Abstract: The paper reports 6E analyses (energy, exergy, economic, environmental, exergo-economic and exergo-environmental) of a biomass based combined power and cooling plant that uses sawdust as its fuel, steam as its sole gasifying agent. The gasification model includes tar in the producer gas and yields maximum hydrogen content when steam-to-biomass ratio (STBM) and reactor temperature are set to 2 and 800 °C respectively. The performance of the cogeneration plant is assessed by varying different input parameters viz. air compressor pressure ratio (pr ) and turbine inlet temperature (TIT). Simulation results show that the optimum performance is achieved when TIT is 1100 °C and pr is in the range of 6 to 8. The exergo-economic factor and exergo-environmental factor are evaluated by considering these optimised conditions. Exergy analysis suggests that the gasifier is subjected to maximum exergy destruction. From economic analysis, the computed effective price of electricity (EPOE) is 0.064 USD/kWh with the discounted payback period of the plant being 8.5 years. The exergo-economic and exergo-environmental factors obtained are 51.5 % and 0.0288 % respectively at the favourable operating conditions.