Novel proposal and assessment of a solar-powered supercritical CO2 cycle integrated with adsorption desalination system for electricity, heating and desalination

This paper presents a thermodynamic performance evaluation of a novel solar based supercritical CO2 (S-CO2) cycle and low temperature adsorption desalination (AD) cycle for power, heating, and freshwater. This novel technology utilizes molten salt as a medium for thermal energy transfer in the solar tower collector and generates power and heating by utilizing the S-CO2 cycle, as well as the AD cycle with heat recovery using aluminium fumarate material to produce freshwater. A parametric investigation is established in order to numerically assess the influence of different parameters on the performance parameters of the novel proposed system. Results show that the thermal efficiency of the solar tower receiver improves from 89.12% to 90.53%, when DNI rises from 900 W/m2 to 1100 W/m2. The thermal and exergy efficiencies of the S-CO2 power cycle are found to be higher at 1100 W/m2 and it is ranged from 33.4% to 44.81% and 54.2%-72.52% respectively, with the rise in inlet pressure of the expander from 12000 kPa to 18000 kPa. In addition, the thermal efficiency of electrical and heating was obtained 25.33% and 10.13%, respectively, at operating conditions. The highest SDWP was achieved 12.5 m3/ton/day and 0.62 GOR at a fixed operating condition.

Automated summary

This paper presents a thermodynamic performance evaluation of a novel solar based supercritical CO2 (S-CO2) cycle and low temperature adsorption desalination (AD) cycle for power, heating, and freshwater. The results show that the thermal efficiency of the solar tower receiver improves with increasing DNI and the thermal and exergy efficiencies of the S-CO2 power cycle are higher at higher inlet pressures of the expander. In addition, the thermal efficiency of electrical and heating is obtained at operating conditions and the highest SDWP achieved is 12.5 m3/ton/day at a fixed operating condition.