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Using TRNSYS software, the proposed Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC)-based solar heating system paired with the boiler is modelled. Sensible thermal energy storage (TES) system is integrated into the refinery's process heating to handle the intermittent nature of solar energy.
Conclusion The present study investigates the feasibility of solar hybrid system to generate steam in the oil refinery to maintain the temperature of heavy crude oil products before despatching from storage tanks. Due to the intermittent behaviour of solar energy, the solar hybrid system is integrated with a sensible heat storage tank.
Most of the steam is to be used for the atmospheric distillation process, which is one of the most energy-intensive processes of a refinery. Furthermore, the exergy balance is shown in Fig. 12 c, which attests to an exergy efficiency of the plant of 55.5%. The energy efficiency determined from the energy balance is 82.4%.
Other studies in the literature considered coupling solar energy systems to oil refineries to decarbonize their operation. The applicability and feasibility of introducing a concentrated solar power (CSP) system to reduce partial reliance on process heaters of a crude oil refinery was studied by Danish et al. .
Solar energy, especially through photovoltaic systems, is a widespread and eco-friendly renewable source. Integrating life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) optimizes economic, environmental, and performance aspects for a sustainable approach. Despite growing interest, literature lacks a comprehensive review on LCCA implementation in photovoltaic systems.
Cost–benefit has always been regarded as one of the vital factors for motivating PV-BESS integrated energy systems investment. Therefore, given the integrity of the project lifetime, an optimization model for evaluating sizing, operation simulation, and cost–benefit into the PV-BESS integrated energy systems is proposed.
The cost–benefit analysis reveals the cost superiority of PV-BESS investment compared with the pure utility grid supply. In addition, the operation simulation of the PV-BESS integrated energy system is carried out showing that how the energy arbitrage is realized.
From the investors’ point of view, the cost–benefit analysis for the PV-BESS project is accomplished in consideration of the whole project lifecycle, proving the cost superiority of PV and BESS investment. At last, sensitivity analysis of PV and BESS optimal allocation is conducted to ideally balance the PV and BESS sizes for investment.
A battery energy storage system (BESS), battery storage power station, battery energy grid storage (BEGS) or battery grid storage is a type of energy storage technology that uses a group of batteries in the grid to store electrical energy.
Lead-acid batteries, as a first-generation technology, are generally used in older BESS systems. Some examples are 1.6 MW peak, 1.0 MW continuous battery was commissioned in 1997. Compared to modern rechargeable batteries, lead-acid batteries have relatively low energy density.
Since 2010, more and more utility-scale battery storage plants rely on lithium-ion batteries, as a result of the fast decrease in the cost of this technology, caused by the electric automotive industry. Lithium-ion batteries are mainly used. A 4-hour flow vanadium redox battery at 175 MW / 700 MWh opened in 2024.
Battery storage power plants and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are comparable in technology and function. However, battery storage power plants are larger. For safety and security, the actual batteries are housed in their own structures, like warehouses or containers.
