Energy, exergy and exergo-environmental assessments of a new integrated thermal system for cleaner district applications
Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, vol.79, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 79
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.tsep.2026.104927
- Journal Name: Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC
- Keywords: Biomass, Clean energy, Energy, Environmental impact, Exergy, Geothermal, Lignite, Sustainability, Waste management
- Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No
Abstract
The study presents a new integrated energy system designed for multigeneration with the useful outputs of clean hydrogen, heat, electricity and fertilizer. The novelty of the system lies in integrating three energy sources: lignite, biomass, and geothermal, into a single integrated energy system that recovers heat from hydrogen liquefaction process and supplies fertilizer for cereal crop production. The system incorporates additional thermodynamic cycles, including the steam Rankine, Kalina, and Brayton cycles. The system is simulated in the Aspen Plus, and the system results show that the overall energy efficiency is 50.44 %, while the overall exergy efficiency is 77.1 %. Moreover, the system produces heat, electricity, hydrogen, and fertilizer, with production rates of 8,996 kW, 17,687 kW, 134.88 g/s, and 918 g/s, respectively. The exergo-environmental analysis shows that the system has a lower environmental impact at lower ambient temperatures because of reduced exergy destruction and improved overall thermodynamic performance.