Advanced Exergy, Exergoeconomic, and Exergoenvironmental Analysis of a Solar-Driven Triple-Generation Kalina Cycle

Abstract

Abstract. This study investigates a novel solar-driven triple-generation Kalina cycle designed to supply electricity, cooling, and heating under Kabul's climatic conditions. The problem addressed is the lack of a comprehensive thermodynamic, economic, and environmental evaluation for such multi-generation systems, particularly when solar storage plays a dominant role in the system performance. To fill this gap, the research conducts—for the first time—a fully integrated conventional and advanced exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental analysis of a solar-assisted triple-generation Kalina cycle. A detailed thermodynamic model was developed in ees to simulate summer and winter conditions. The advanced exergy results show that the solar thermal tank in summer and the auxiliary boiler in winter are the major sources of irreversibility; however, a substantial portion of these destructions is avoidable and exogenous (e.g., 4553 kW in summer), indicating that system-wide optimization, rather than isolated component improvements, offers the highest potential for performance enhancement. Exergoeconomic results reveal that destruction costs associated with the thermal tank (1698.8 USD/h in summer) and solar-storage investment (3077 USD/h in summer) and solar-storage investment (3077 USD/h) are the dominant contributors to total cost, implying that improved storage design is essential for long-term economic feasibility. From an environmental standpoint, the auxiliary boiler generates the highest impacts (up to 302.8 Pts/h), suggesting that low-emission fuel alternatives or boiler-side enhancements are critical. Overall, the system demonstrates strong potential for sustainable and cost-effective energy supply, meaning that improvements targeting avoidable and exogenous losses—especially within the storage and boiler subsystems—can significantly increase efficiency while reducing economic and environmental burdens.