Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Due to increasing environmental and economic concerns, it is a strong need to develop sustainable energy solutions to fulfil some critical targets, such as: better design and analysis, better efficiency, better cost effectiveness, better resources use, better environment and better energy security. This research program aims to address this and develop novel integrated energy systems with energy storage options for multigeneration purposes in various sectors, ranging from industrial to residential through systems and applications. This research program consists of five main parts. The first part focuses on the conceptual development and design of novel integrated multigeneration systems using diverse energy sources and their hybridization with renewables and conventional sources. The systems produce various valuable products, namely, power, space heating, water heating, steam generation, water cooling, air conditioning, hydrogen, desalination (fresh water and salt), fertilizers, ammonia, methanol, basic construction materials, and others. Another important aspect is the energy storage options as to be incorporated into the integrated multigeneration systems to offset the mismatch between demand and supply, which is a common problem when one especially deals with renewable energy resources. The second part deals with the modeling and analyses of processes that can be encountered in multigeneration systems, covering micro- and macro-level and multi-dimensional modeling; and thermodynamic (energetically and exergetically), fluid flow, chemical, thermochemical, catalytic and non-catalytic, electrochemical, photochemical,heat transfer and mass transfer analyses (in steady and unsteady forms). The third part involves small-scale lab experiments and proof of concept testing on various designs of proposed systems (such as heat engine systems) and their components (such as heat exchangers, condensers, open feed water heaters, mixing chambers, compressors, expanders, pumps, boilers, etc.). In addition, some selected key processes, as involved in the multigeneration systems, including boiling, heating, cooling, condensation, evaporation, mixing, compression, expansion, etc., are studied in more detail through the experimental measurements and proof of concept testing. The fourth part deals with multi-objective optimization and performance assessment of the multigeneration systems developed and tested. This is done based on multi-objective criteria including minimization of exergy destructions, minimization of costs, minimization of environmental impact, and increasing efficiency and sustainability, etc. Performance assessment studies are done thermodynamically through energy and exergy efficiencies. Economic, environmental, ecological and sustainability performances are studied through cost parameters, impact criteria and life cycle analyses. The last part deals with studying the options to improve the systems and their components for better performance, cost effectiveness, resources use, environment, feasibility, viability, integrability, etc. Reducing system irreversibilities and losses, achieving heat recovery and increasing the number of useful outputs will be three main tasks to accomplish. There will be parametric studies conducted in this regard to develop these further for practical applications and finalize the systems.