Innovative biomass cogeneration system for a zero energy school building

Area of Science:

• Sustainable Energy Systems
• Renewable Energy Technologies
• Building Energy Efficiency

Background:

• Dubai aims for Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) by 2050, necessitating innovative energy solutions for educational facilities.
• Existing co-generation systems require optimization to meet the specific energy demands (electricity, heating, cooling) of ZEB schools.
• Biomass energy offers a promising avenue for clean electricity generation and thermal management in sustainable buildings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and optimize a co-generation system for a Zero Energy School Building (ZESB) in Dubai.
• To define and demonstrate the feasibility of meeting ZEB energy consumption using a biomass-based system.
• To evaluate the system's efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact, specifically CO2 emission reduction.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a co-generation system featuring modified Brayton cycle units (biogas), steam Rankine cycle, organic Rankine cycle, and a compression chiller.
• Utilization of the Building Energy Optimization Tool (BEopt) for optimizing building energy consumption.
• Application of Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software and response surface methodology for optimizing biomass energy production.

Main Results:

• The optimized system achieved an overall efficiency of 31.79% and reduced annual CO2 emissions by 24,548.97 kg.
• The biomass energy system is projected to annually produce 151,746,087 kWh of electricity, 194,610,878 kWh of heating, and 158,962,204 kWh of cooling.
• Significant energy savings were identified, with the potential to offset co-generation system costs through surplus energy production.

Conclusions:

• The proposed biomass co-generation system effectively meets the energy demands of a ZEB school in Dubai.
• This integrated approach demonstrates a viable pathway for achieving ZEB targets through diversified renewable energy technologies.
• The study highlights the potential for substantial environmental benefits and cost savings in educational settings adopting sustainable energy practices.