Design and comprehensive thermo-enviro-economic assessment of an innovative polygeneration system using biomass fuel and LNG regasification: A CCHP-thermally desalination application

Biomass fuel utilization is a crucial energy supply task for sustainable development due to its renewable and high energy density nature. Considering an innovative thermal design for a biomass combustion process, this study proposes an innovative multigeneration system for generating combined cooling, heating, power, and freshwater. The proposed system comprises a biomass combustor, an organic Rankine cycle, a multi-effect desalination, an absorption chiller, and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification unit. The system is simulated using the Aspen HYSYS software, and its energy, exergy, economic, and environmental aspects are analyzed comprehensively. According to the simulation, the system produces 10403 kW of electricity, 4927.4 kW of cooling, 1743 kW of heat, and 19.83 kg/s of freshwater. Hence, the energy and exergy efficiencies are computed as 67.1% and 37.15%, respectively. Based on the simulation condition, the total cost rate and product unit cost associated with the proposed system are 568 $/h and 14.89 $/GJ, respectively. The study also incorporates a comprehensive sensitivity study based on two principal parameters; i.e., LNG stream rate and temperature of the combustion gas leaving the evaporator of organic Rankine cycle, on the production capacity of products, energy and exergy efficiencies, primary energy saving, and product unit cost.