Development of a novel solar-based integrated system for desalination with heat recovery

A novel multigeneration system based on solar energy and coupled with reverse osmosis unit is developed, and thermodynamic analysis is carried out for performance assessment. The multigeneration system includes production of hydrogen, electricity, heat and cooling. Hydrogen blended homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is incorporated to meet additional demand of electricity. The major portion of generated electricity through HCCI engine is used to meet domestic load of remote (Off-Grid) areas and the rest drives a reverse osmosis (RO) unit. The integration of Pelton turbine with desalination plant recovers 24.3% of the input power consumed in RO process. The major cost associated with storage and transportation of hydrogen is mitigated by burning it in HCCI engine for electricity generation. The selected low-cost photovoltaic (PV) panels are cooled for increased efficiency through the waste heat recovered from the exhaust of HCCI engine and organic Rankine cycle (ORC). The influences of operating parameters on energy and exergy efficiencies of photovoltaic modules and overall multigeneration system are examined. The innovative integration of cooling system and energy recovery Pelton turbine greatly improves energetic and exergetic efficiencies of photovoltaic panels and multigeneration system.