Exergetic performance assessment of an integrated solar energy system

In this study, an integrated solar absorption-cooling and heating system is taken as a basis to develop a multi-generation solar system with five outputs, namely electricity, heat, hot water, cooling, and air conditioning (humidifying/dehumidifying) for residential use. The system performance is assessed by energy and exergy efficiencies. The present system is capable of producing 550 kW of electricity. The exergy efficiencies and exergy destruction rates are examined under the variation of ambient conditions. The results show that the maximum exergy efficiency for the overall system is 28%. It is also found that the main sources of exergy destruction rate are the solar collectors and ORC turbines and evaporators. Therefore, this study points out the importance of the selection and design of these to reduce exergy destruction, and as a result, increase the exergy efficiency of the system by minimising irreversibilities.