Energy and exergy analyses of an integrated renewable energy system for hydrogen production

In this study, a new integrated energy system using a renewable energy source is developed to generate hydrogen in a clean manner, and a complete thermodynamic analysis and assessment through energy and exergy approaches for the solar-water-hydrogen-power cycle is carried out. In this regard, an evaluation of energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the proposed system and all subcomponents is performed to determine the exergy destructions and losses of the system and its major subcomponents. Moreover, a parametric study is performed for assessing various key components on the overall performance of the system. The present results show that the proposed system achieves a 25.07% of energy efficiency and a 31.01% of exergy efficiency, respectively. The exergy destruction and entropy generation rates at the solar receiver become the highest as 115.86 MW and 388.80 kW/K, respectively. The highest energy and exergy efficiencies are obtained at 1000 MW of the incoming heat rate of the solar receiver to be 33.53% and 41.49%, respectively. Furthermore, the highest heat transfer rate occurs in the solar receiver, whereas the highest work output results in the high-pressure turbine. •A new integrated system for clean hydrogen and electricity production is developed.•Energetic and exergetic assessment of the developed system is investigated.•Exergy destruction evaluation for all subcomponents of the system is performed.•A comprehensive parametric study for assessing various key components is performed.•Overall energy and exergy efficiencies found to be 25.07% and 31.01%, respectively.