Simulation and economic evaluation of small-scale SOFC-GT-MED

Thermal nature of multiple effect distillation (MED) process causes the integration of a desalination unit with a high-temperature power cycle like gas turbine in combination with the solid oxide fuel cell. The improvement in energy efficiency is achieved as a result of this combination. This configuration can be introduced as an effective system for the electrical energy–freshwater production. The electrical efficiency of solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine (SOFC-GT) is reported about 60%. Small-scale MED unit is presented as a solution for heat recovery in the 300–1,000 kW range of (size of SOFC) SOFC-GT power cycle. The exhausted heat of SOFC-GT power cycle is used in heat recovery steam generator to produce a required motive steam for the desalination unit. Simulation, parametric studies, and economic analysis of proposed system are carried out to investigate the system performance. Economic analyses are applied based on the annualized cost of system method. Results show that the combination of MED with SOFC-GT power cycle makes the system more economic.