Exergy and exergoeconomic evaluation and optimal design of a solar-powered system integrated with PEM fuel cell and TEG for cleaner production

• Develop a hybrid system with a solar PTC and hydrogen PEM fuel cell. • Assess system performance using exergy and exergo-economic analysis. • Optimize the hybrid plant using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. • Achieve 13.199 kW turbine power with a cost rate of 4.114 $/h. Considerable increase in the energy consumption, raised concerns over clean energy production. The solar limitless energy is one of the renewable sources. Utilizing the solar energy, is perfectly suitable for location with high solar intensity. In this research, a combined cooling and power (CCP) CO 2 cycle, which is employing two ejectors and two evaporators is studied. LS-2 parabolic trough collector was modeled and Cu-water nanofluid was used to transfer the collected solar energy to the main cycle. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is employed to preheat the nanofluid and supply pumps power. The system operating conditions were optimized using evolutionary multi-objective genetic algorithm. The MATLAB software was used to perform the optimization procedure. Results indicate that the turbine can generate a power output of 9.247 kW. The specific exergy cost of turbine produced power was 97.050 $/GJ. The exergy destruction for PTC, PEM fuel cell, and turbine were 45.104 kW, 21.831 kW, and 0.999 kW, respectively which are caused by friction losses and irreversibilities of thermodynamic process. The exergy destruction of PTC was 61% of total exergy destruction. The evaluation of the system in different locations revealed that Riyadh and Baghdad have great potential for the proposed system. Additionally, the optimization results for proposed system revealed that the maximum obtainable work of turbine was 13.199 kW with a turbine power cost rate of 4.114 $/h. According to the proposed configuration which operates without the use of fossil fuels, this system could provide sustainable and clean power production for off-grid areas. Also, water as the product of the fuel cell is a clean product which is not harmful for environment. The findings for studied city which are high potential solar places supports the sustainability of the studied configuration.