Thermodynamic analysis of a solar-powered hybrid polygeneration system using linear fresnel reflectors for multi-energy production

The rising need for sustainable energy solutions has further raised interest in solar-based multigeneration systems that can provide multiple useful products from a single renewable energy resource. In this paper, a linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) assisted hybrid polygeneration system is presented and analyzed for the simultaneous production of power, cooling, freshwater, hydrogen, together with LNG cold energy recovery during the regasification process. The suggested system consists of a reheat transcritical CO 2 Rankine cycle (tRC) as the primary power production unit, along with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) as a secondary power generation subsystem, followed by an LNG regasification subsystem, multi-effect desalination (MED) system, absorption refrigeration cycle (ARC), and an alkaline electrolyzer (AEl). The proposed plant’s performance is analyzed using energy and exergy analysis methods for the climatic conditions of Isparta, Türkiye. Monthly, daily, and parametric analyses are conducted to investigate the impact of solar irradiation on the plant’s overall performance. In addition, under a representative solar irradiation level of 850 W/m 2 , the plant is able to generate a total net power of 1036.03 kW, while at the same time providing a refrigeration capacity of 353.99 kW, a freshwater rate of 3.58 m 3 /h, and a hydrogen production rate of 1.40 kg/h. The outcomes demonstrate that the plant’s overall energetic and exergetic efficiencies have been calculated to be 0.165 and 0.14, while the total LFR thermal efficiency has been calculated to be 0.5947, and the MED unit achieves a gain output ratio of 6.019.