Thermoeconomic analysis and Multi-Objective optimization for the synthesis of green hydrogen and three different products via a novel energy system

This paper proposes an integrated energy conversion system relying on the parabolic trough solar collector field, a Rankine cycle, and a proton exchange membrane to generate green hydrogen and methane alongside power and freshwater. This study examines the power of effective variables on energy and economic factors before and after the integration of renewable energy sources. Simulating a system and obtaining the desired outcome is achieved by using an engineering equation solver. A genetic evolutionary algorithm code is used to find the optimal operating circumstance for the plant by applying a multi-criteria genetic evolutionary algorithm to the system. According to the results obtained from an energy standpoint, the exergy productivity is 12.76% and the total cost is 61.69 $/GJ at optimum operating conditions. Further optimization of the multi-objective optimi-zation model shows that the optimum operating case, which is suitably-balanced among energy productivity and cost, has maximum energy productivity of 13.29% and a cost of 63.96 $/GJ, sequentially. Optimal working conditions are considered to correspond to exergy productivity of 10.01% and total cost of 60.21 $/GJ, sequentially. Further, hydrogen would be produced at a rate of 2.28 kg/h under well-balanced operating circumstances. A strong approach for optimizing the system operation and diminish total cost can be achieved by installing the condenser unit instead of the condenser.