A Novel Energy and Exergy Assessments of Solar Operated Combined Power and Absorption Refrigeration Cogeneration Cycle

The particular research is widely based on the concept of cogeneration cycle which has been developed by integrating a solar field consisting of heliostats coupled with the LiNO₃-H₂O absorption refrigeration cycle. Energy and exergy analyses have been performed on this conceptual cycle. Estimates for the irreversibility of all the major energy-consuming components of the cycle lead to possible measures for performance enhancement. The analysis also involves the determination of effects of DNI, variation in the mass flow rate of steam and molten salt on change DNI, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency of the solar-based cogeneration cycle. The energy efficiencies of the Rankine cycle and cogeneration cycle lie in the range 31.45–42.38%, and exergy efficiencies lie between 42.51% and 56.5%. Further, the performance parameters computed are the exergy destruction, which shows that out of total irreversibility evaluated in the system about 2495 kW is being contributed by a central receiver, 1869 kW by heliostat and 586 kW in HRSG are the most influenced parameters in the whole cycle.