Investigation and proposal of a novel solar-powered trigeneration system for more environmentally friendly heating,...

The rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves and their associated environmental impacts, including global warming, have led to an increased emphasis on waste heat recovery and renewable energy sources. The present research proposes a novel trigeneration system that harnesses solar energy to generate electricity, heating, and cooling for buildings. The research seeks to reduce energy waste and boost system efficiency. In the Kalina cycle, which is combined with the absorption refrigeration cycle, a heliostat-based central receiver with helical coils and Syltherm 800 oil as the solar heat transfer fluid enhances the conversion of solar rays into heat. Extensive parametric research and system modeling were conducted using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software, using mass, energy, and exergy equations. Direct normal irradiation (DNI) and coil form (rib height) affect receiver oil temperature using a mathematical model. ANSYS-FLUENT CFD simulations reveal a maximum of 39.4% rise in oil output temperature at 2 mm rib height, 42 mm coil pitch, and 1000 W/m2 DNI. The proposed system’s energetic and exergetic evaluations demonstrate that incorporating an absorption refrigeration cycle (ARC) into the Kalina cycle improves its energy and exergy efficiencies by 23.78% and 14.55%, respectively. The exergetic assessment revealed exergy destruction, with the center receiver dissipating the most exergy (22.45%), followed by the heliostat field (11.67%). The examined receiver configuration provides a practical approach for improving the thermal performance of the solar collector and its associated system. The proposed system supports sustainable development by producing cleaner energy of various types to meet societal needs.