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Zero-carbon distributed energy systems incorporating proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, hydrogen-oxygen combined cycle, heat pump, and multi-stage flash desalination: Operation strategies and performance analyses

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Zhidong
  • Lu, Wanyin
  • Li, Nannan
  • Qiu, Zian
  • Chen, Lei
  • Wang, Weijia
  • Kong, Yanqiang
  • Yang, Lijun
  • Du, Xiaoze

Abstract

The utilization of hydrogen could help reduce carbon emissions in the energy industry and achieve carbon neutrality. In this paper, the conventional hydrogen-oxygen combined cycle (HOCC) is first analyzed, and then the novel HOCC for combined heat and power is proposed and analyzed. Afterwards, two integrated systems based on the novel HOCC are proposed with the corresponding operation strategies. In integrated system 1, the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer is used for hydrogen production utilizing the wind power during nighttime, while the hydrogen is used for driving the novel HOCC for heating and power output along with air source heat pump during daytime. In integrated system 2, multi-stage flash desalination is added for producing freshwater, compared with integrated system 1. The thermodynamic and economic performances of integrated systems 1 and 2 are evaluated through a case study. Thermodynamic analysis shows that: the heating output is higher and the power output is lower in integrated system 1. While the heating output is lower and the power output is higher in integrated system 2. The average exergy efficiency of integrated system 1 on the four typical days are 36.55 %, 38.10 %, 37.25 %, and 37.48 %, those of integrated system 2 are 36.89 %, 35.29 %, 34.43 %, and 36.48 %. Economic analysis suggests integrated system 1 outperforms integrated system 2: the dynamic payback periods for integrated systems 1 and 2 are 11.68 and 12.97 years, with the corresponding net present values being 14.12 and 12.26 million USD.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Zhidong & Lu, Wanyin & Li, Nannan & Qiu, Zian & Chen, Lei & Wang, Weijia & Kong, Yanqiang & Yang, Lijun & Du, Xiaoze, 2026. "Zero-carbon distributed energy systems incorporating proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, hydrogen-oxygen combined cycle, heat pump, and multi-stage flash desalination: Operation strategies and performance analyses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225052363
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139594
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Zhidong & Hou, Yichen & Liu, Mingyu & Zhang, Guoqiang & Zhang, Kai & Zhang, Dongke & Yang, Lijun & Kong, Yanqiang & Du, Xiaoze, 2022. "Thermodynamic and economic analyses of sewage sludge resource utilization systems integrating Drying, Incineration, and power generation processes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
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