Multi-aspect study of an innovative glycerol-fed polygeneration model involving combined power cycles, chilled water unit, desalination, and methanol synthesis

The current paper presents an innovative model for a polygonation purpose based on glycerol steam reforming for the first time. This model uses an innovative thermal integration, wherein the flue gas leaving the reforming unit as well as the output syngas are considered for producing electricity, low-pressure steam, chilled water, freshwater, and methanol. This model consists of glycerol steam reforming unit, transcritical-carbon dioxide (CO₂) cycle, chilled water unit, water desalination unit, steam power plant, and methanol production unit. This system was simulated using the Aspen HYSYS program, and its performance under steady-state operating circumstances was assessed using a thorough 4E analysis. The total exergy and energy efficiency are found to be 68.81 % and 35.57 %, respectively, according to the exergetic and energetic analyses. Moreover, the total rate of exergy destruction is measured at 202841 kW. Considering the environmental aspect, the system exhibits a total CO₂ emission of 154,306.82 kg/h and a CO₂ footprint of 0.1943 kg_CO2/kgMeOH. Besides, the economic analysis exhibits that the methanol production unit has the maximum capital cost (38,298,289 $) among the equipment, contributing to 82 % of the total value. In addition, the production cost of electricity, low-pressure steam, chilled water, freshwater, and methanol is obtained at 0.088 $/kWh, 0.4 $/kg_steam, 0.026 $/kg_CW, 0.12 $/kg_FW, and 0.214 $/kg_MeOH, respectively.