Novel design of hybrid dish Stirling engine and FC-electrolyzer system for synergistic power and green hydrogen solutions: A 3E performance evaluation

This study aims to employ mathematical simulation techniques to assess the technical, financial, and environmental aspects of an advanced dish Stirling-fuel cell energy solution. The proposed system provides an integrated sustainable power and green hydrogen co-generation. This study is the first attempt to integrate Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) with a Dish Stirling Engine (DSE). Hence, the novelty of this work is replacing typical photovoltaic-driven hydrogen systems with an innovative DSE-Fuel Cell System with Hydrogen Storage Tanks and Electrolyzer (DSE-FC) for improved performance of hydrogen production . The configuration being proposed includes units of DSEs, a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer (PEME), PEMFCs, a converter, and a tank for storing hydrogen. The Techno-Environmental-economic (3E) analysis of the hybrid system was modeled using MATLAB/Simulink®. Moreover, parametric analysis was applied to the developed system to evaluate system performance , including DSE panel power, efficiency, and area; electrolyzer flow rate, efficiency, output power; stack efficiency and power; overall levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the assembled parts; and annual reduction in CO 2 emissions. The simulation results demonstrated that the FC stack could attain its peak power output of 2.33 kW and efficiency of 11.34 % when the DSE-rated power is 350 kW, the operating temperature is 40 °C, and there are about 300 cells in the stack. Moreover, the LCOE was identified to be about 0.223 $/kWh with higher DSE outputs of 35 kW amongst temperatures between 10 °C and 35 °C. Further, with a DSE system rated at 35 kW, the overall power generation varies from 196 kW to 194.4 kW as the lower temperature ( T l ) elevates from 10 °C to 35 °C. Ultimately, a DSE-rated power of 17 kW–35 kW yielded a 461.9 % CO 2 emissions reduction boost at 10 °C in the rate to 1489 tonn CO2 . The adopted method introduces a sustainable solution to address power and hydrogen challenges worldwide. • Novel hybrid DSE-FC system for power and green hydrogen cogeneration. • Comprehensive energy, economic, and environment analysis is performed via MATLAB-based simulations. • Overall FC stack power efficiency reaches 11.34 % at optimal operating conditions. • LCOE is less than 0.223 $/kWh at higher DSE power output ranging from 10 °C to 35 °C. • The DSE-FC model achieves 461.9 % CO 2 reduction with 35 kW DSE-rated power at 10 °C.