Thermodynamic analysis of a combined chemical looping-based trigeneration system

Energy and exergy analyses of a newly developed three-reactor chemical looping hydrogen generation process are performed for trigeneration of power, hydrogen, and heating. The present integrated system consists of an (a) air separation unit (ASU), (b) gasification sub-system, (c) chemical looping hydrogen generation unit in connection with SOFC assisted gas turbine (CLHG-SOFC/GT), (d) an extended heat recovery steam generation unit (HRSG) to supply heat for Steam cycle, organic Rankine cycle and space heating, (e) a two stage steam Rankine cycle (SRC) for power generation with reheat and regeneration, and (f) an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to produce power. The gasified coal is separated and purified in quench chamber and syngas cleaner; CO2 and H-2 are generated from fuel and steam reactors of chemical looping unit, and both are then compressed after separated from water and ready for transportation. A specified amount of H-2 produced from steam reactor is also used to produce electricity with SOFC/GT. A comprehensive parametric study is performed, and the effects of multi-generation and system integration, environmental conditions, and system parameter variations on overall efficiencies are investigated. Overall electrical, hydrogen, energy and exergy efficiencies are comparatively determined for different cases. Overall energy and exergy efficiencies of proposed system are found to be 56.9% and 45.05%, respectively, with a total exergy destruction rate of 15,421 kW. The highest exergy destruction occurs in the gasifier and CLHG due to high temperature chemical processes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.