Exergoeconomic analysis of a trigeneration system driven by a solid oxide fuel cell

A trigeneration system based on a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is modeled and analyzed from exergoeconomic view point. The trigeneration system also includes a generator-absorber heat exchanger absorption refrigeration system and a heat exchanger (HX) to produce cooling and heating, respectively. The effects of three important SOFC parameters (current density, inlet flow temperature and fuel utilization factor) on several variables (unit cost of the electrical power, unit cost of the cooling, unit cost of the heating and total unit cost of the products) are examined. The results show that the unit cost of the electrical power increases with an increase in the current density. Increasing SOFC inlet temperature causes the unit costs of the products to decline to a point and then increase. For the conditions studied, the maximum total unit cost of the products is 34.2 $/GJ whereas the minimum is 26.5 $/GJ. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.