Introducing, evaluation and exergetic performance assessment of a novel hybrid system composed of MCFC, methanol synthesis process, and a combined power cycle

Highlights: • A hybrid MCFC-MSP-CHP was proposed and exergetically assessed. • The system produced 110.5 MW power, 271.7 kgmole/h methanol, and hot water. • Overall exergy & energy efficiencies were found 58.4 and 83.7%. • 23% of the overall exergy destruction occurred in the combustion chamber. • A thorough sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the interactive effects. -- Abstract: The object of this paper is to develop and exergetically assess a multi-generation system comprised of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) coupled with Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), Methanol Synthesis Process (MSP) with distillation process, and combined heat and power cycle (CHP) including gas turbine, Rankine cycle (RC), Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and District Heating (DH) line. The combination of the MCFC, CHP and MSP can be considered as an innovative breakthrough in the field of energy systems, in light of the fact that the reforming compartment can mutually feed both MCFC and MSP, and the whole process can simultaneously produce electricity, pure methanol and hot water. The SMR at 800 kPa and 600 °C was applied to produce synthetic gas required by MCFC and MSP. The simulation was performed by Aspen Hysys, considering several operational conditions and the best was selected according to exergetic performance assessment. The structure produced 110,544 kW net electricity (34% MCFC, 33.4% gas turbine, 18.4% RC and 14.2% ORC), pure methanol (99.9%) at 271.7 kgmole/h, and hot water at 80 °C and 65398.7 kgmole/h. About 23% and 21% of the overall destructed exergy belonged to combustion chamber and MCFC, respectively. The overall exergy destruction, exergy efficiency and energy efficiency of the integrated system were obtained 116,353 kW, 58.4% and 83.7%, respectively. Finally, the performance of the proposed hybrid system was compared with similar studies and it was found that the hybrid MCFC-MSP-CHP system can outstandingly enhance the overall efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions.