Performance Evaluation of a Solar Heat-Driven Poly-Generation System for Residential Buildings Using Various Arrangements of Heat Recovery Units

Poly-generation systems are a feasible alternative to conventional energy production techniques in buildings. A poly-generation system allows for the concurrent production of electricity, heat, cold, and fresh water, with considerable advantages regarding technology, finances, energy recovery, and the environment. In the present study, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC), the humidification–dehumidification desalination system (HDH), and the desiccant cooling system (DCS) are merged with three unique solar-driven poly-generation systems (BS, IS-I, and IS-II) and numerically examined. The proposed options provide energy, space cooling, domestic heating, and potable water to buildings of small/medium scale. Using n-octane ORC working fluid, the impact of operational circumstances on system productivity and execution characteristics was considered. The findings show that (i) the suggested poly-generation systems can provide electrical power, conditioned space cooling, local heating, and fresh water, whereas keeping the conditioned area pleasant, (ii) the IS-I system achieves the best system performance among all compared arrangements (BS and IS-II); (iii) the attained extreme values of W˙net, m˙fresh, Q˙cooling, Q˙heating, and TGOR are 102.0 kW (all systems), 214.70 kg/h (IS-II), 29.940 kW (IS-II), 225.6 kW (IS-I), and 0.6303 (IS-I), respectively.