Performance analysis of a solar-aided waste-to-energy system based on steam reheating

An innovative hybrid solar-municipal solid waste power system has been proposed for advancing the waste-toenergy and solar thermal energy technologies. The integration is realized by exploiting the useful heat harvested from sunlight in the parabolic trough collectors to reheat the working steam of the incineration plant and promote the steam temperature. Consequently, the steam cycle performance can be remarkably improved with the efficient utilization of solar energy. The hybrid design was thermodynamically and economically assessed based on a 500 t/d incineration plant, and the performance enhancement mechanism was revealed. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the performance of the hybrid system under various solar conditions. The results indicated that the ideal steam cycle efficiency is boosted by 0.93 percentage points when adopting the proposed solution. The solar energy contributes to producing 1.17 MW net power with a solar-toelectricity efficiency of 21.59% at the design point. The integrated system performs excellently for most of the year, and the annual solar-to-electricity of 16.19% is achieved. Regarding a lifespan of 30 years, the levelized electricity cost of the solar-aided reheating system is as low as 0.1202 $/(kW. h). Hence, the novel design is thermodynamically and economically suitable.

Automated summary

The proposed hybrid solar-municipal solid waste power system effectively improves steam cycle performance by using heat harvested from sunlight to reheat steam in an incineration plant. Thermodynamic and economic assessments demonstrate the system's efficiency and economic viability, with excellent performance throughout the year and long-term economic value.