Thermoeconomic evaluation of using thermal energy storage tank in the cogeneration production system of heating, power (CHP), and freshwater

The design and optimization of multiple production systems, including systems that simultaneously generate heat, power and freshwater, play an important role in improving the performance of these systems. In this study, after modeling a multi-effect evaporative desalination system MED and simultaneous heat and power generation CHP, they are combined to meet the demand for heating, power and fresh water for a hotel. The purpose of this study is the thermoeconomic evaluation of the use of thermal energy storage TES tank in the combined system CHP + MED compared to the non-use of this tank. The strategy is applied every 24 hours of the two seasons. In optimizing this system, the annual cost minimization has been done as a objective function and using genetic algorithm. Optimal technical results in these systems show that the system CHP + MED + TES requires a gas turbine with a nominal capacity of 12% larger and a backup boiler with a nominal capacity of 7.14% smaller than the system CHP + MED. The optimal results of the economic comparison show that by using the thermal energy storage tank in the combined system CHP + MED, the annual cost is improved by 4.91%.