Comparative Exergoeconomic Analysis of Hybrid Systems Integrating Chemical Looping Combustion and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for Low-Carbon Methanol and Power Cogeneration

Abstract Recent progress in chemical looping combustion (CLC) has promoted the integration of CLC with emerging conversion pathways to enhance energy utilization and mitigate CO2 emissions. In this study, two proposed solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated CLC configurations, namely, a CLC-assisted molten salt methane pyrolysis system (MMPCLC) and a chemical looping hydrogen generation system (CLHG), were comparatively assessed using exergy, economic, and exergoeconomic criteria. The results showed that while the MMPCLC system delivered 10.29% higher total exergy output than the CLHG system, its exergy efficiency was 0.5% lower due to the supplementary energy demand for methane pyrolysis. Economically, the CLHG system exhibited a significant advantage over the MMPCLC system under baseline conditions, with values of 63.12 and 67.82 $/MWh, respectively. Meanwhile, the CLHG system achieved a dynamic payback period of 4.03 years, which is 38.75% shorter than that of the MMPCLC system (6.58 years). Exergoeconomic analysis further identified the principal sources of exergy destruction and cost formation in both layouts. Overall, the two systems exhibited similar thermodynamic performance but different economic advantages, indicating distinct deployment niches rather than a single universally superior configuration. These insights provide theoretical guidance for hybrid energy systems and facilitate the implementation of carbon utilization.