Advanced exergy and exergoeconomic analyses of Kalina cycle integrated with parabolic-trough solar collectors

This research deals with the performance and cost assessment of a Kalina cycle integrated with Parabolic-Trough Solar Collectors (PTSC) using advanced exergy and exergoeconomic based methods to identify the improvement potential and the interaction among system components. The exergy destruction rate and the total operating cost within the components are divided into endogenous/exogenous and unavoidable/avoidable parts. Results indicate that the avoidable exergy destruction cost rate (C^AV_D) of the entire system is only 29%, of which 32% is related to the components and 68% is due to the interaction between them. Also, the endogenous part of the exergy destruction cost for the entire system is notably high (87%) and the contribution of C^AV_D in the entire system is 32%, of which 68% is related to the endogenous part. Furthermore, 84% of the investment cost rate is associated with endogenous cost rate ( Z^ EN ) and 84% of the avoidable investment cost rate (Z^AV _D) is endogenous. It is revealed that the auxiliary heater and PTSC have the highest modified improvement potential with values of 66.9% and 59.5%, respectively.