Innovative biomass cogeneration system for a zero energy school building

This study presents a detailed analysis of a Co-generation system specifically designed to fulfill energy (Electricity - Cooling - Heating) requirements of a Zero energy building (ZEB) school in Dubai. The proposed system integrates an electric compression chiller, which plays a crucial role in efficiently managing both heating and cooling demands within the educational facility. To generate clean electricity, the system utilizes a combination of advanced technologies, including a steam Rankine cycle turbine, an organic Rankine cycle turbine, and a gas turbine. The main goal of this research is to supply the definition of a ZEB by providing energy consumed by Zero Energy school building (ZESB) with a biomass system. To optimize energy consumption within the building, the innovative Building Energy Optimization Tool (BEopt) is employed, providing insights into energy efficiency improvements. Optimization of the biomass-based energy production system are executed applied EES software (Engineering Equation Solver) alongside the response surface methodology, ensuring a robust analytical framework for performance evaluation. The suggested co-generation consisted of modified Brayton cycle units (biogas fuel), steam Rankine cycle, organic Rankine cycle, and compression chiller for electricity generation, cooling, and heating. Annual energy consumption metrics for the school indicate a total electricity usage of 43,539.48 kWh, with a heating load of 0.94 kWh and a cooling load of 1,115.68 kWh. Through strategic optimization of energy consumption patterns, the system achieves a notable reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, amounting to 24,548.97 kg per year. The optimized energy system operates with an overall efficiency of 31.79% and incurs operational costs estimated at $88.02 per hour. In terms of output generation, the biomass energy system is projected to yield approximately 151,746,087 kWh of electricity, 194,610,878 kWh of heating bar, and 158,962,204 kWh of cooling bar annually. Comparative analysis demonstrates that this innovative biomass-based energy system can effectively meet the school's energy demands throughout the year while contributing to sustainability goals and reducing environmental impact. A comparison of the school's consumption and the system's production showed that 151,702,547.5 kWh of electricity, 194,609,762.3 kWh of heating, and 158,774,864.1 kWh of cooling could be saved in one year to offset costs of co-generation systems. This research underscores the potential for integrating diversified renewable energy technologies in educational settings, thereby promoting sustainable practices within the context of Dubai's commitment to supplying ZEB consumption in its ZEBs by 2050.