Research Information System
Energy Equipment and Systems, vol.14, no.1, pp.81-101, 2026 (Scopus)
This study presents a comprehensive thermodynamic, environmental, and optimization-based assessment of two biomass-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated tri-generation systems: one utilizing syngas from gasification and the other powered by biogas from anaerobic digestion. The systems provide electricity, heating, and cooling, and are analyzed through first-and second-law thermodynamics, exergy destruction analysis, and carbon dioxide emissions evaluation. A multi-objective optimization approach based on a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is employed to simultaneously maximize net power and exergy efficiency while minimizing CO2 emissions. The results reveal that the digester-based configuration outperforms the gasifier-based system, achieving a higher net power output of 327.83 kW, improved exergy efficiency of 30.45%, and lower carbon emissions of 17.89 ton/MWh. In comparison, the gasification-based system reaches 191.7 kW net power, 29.51% exergy efficiency, and 21.36 ton/MWh CO2 emissions. Exergy destruction analysis highlights the digester and gasifier units as the main sources of irreversibility. The findings underscore the superior sustainability and efficiency of biogas-based tri-generation systems and provide practical insights for optimizing decentralized energy systems with minimal environmental impact.