Multi-criteria optimization of a biomass-fired proton exchange membrane fuel cell integrated with organic rankine cycle/thermoelectric generator using different gasification agents.

In this work, a biomass-fired proton exchange membrane fuel cell integrated with organic Rankine cycle and thermoelectric generator using different gasification agents is proposed for the cogeneration of power and heat as well as hot water production. Both models are comprehensively analyzed and compared from thermodynamic, thermoeconomic, and environmental aspects. A parametric study is performed to evaluate the influence of major decision parameters on the output power, energy and exergy efficiencies, CO 2 emission index, and total cost rate of both models. Furthermore, the best model is optimized using genetic algorithm method in MATLAB. The results reveal that using steam as the gasification agent is more suitable in terms of economic and environmental performance indicators. Referring to the exergy and exergoeconomic assessment, in both models, afterburner is one of the significant sources of irreversibility and proton exchange membrane fuel cell has the highest cost of inefficiencies. Results of multi-objective optimization indicate that the output power and total cost rate of the model using steam as the gasification agent are 1.849 kW and 5.094 $/h. Moreover, scatter distribution of the significant variables shows that biomass moisture content and figure of merit are sensitive variables that should be kept at their lowest value. • A biomass-fired PEM fuel cell system is proposed for power/heat/hot water production. • Proposed system is compared using steam and air as the gasification agents. • A parametric study is performed to assess the influence of major variables on the models performance/environmental aspects. • Using steam as the gasification agent leads to lower economic and environmental indices and higher performance indicators. • For the best model, at the optimum point, the output power and total cost rate are 1.849 kW and 5.0942 $/h, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]