Hydrogen, Fuel Cell & Energy Storage

Hydrogen, Fuel Cell & Energy Storage

Hydrogen Production Potential of a System Powered by Geothermal Energy and Thermoelectric Generators

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Ghanim Kadhim Naser Al-Shammari
Majid Abbasalizadeh
Iraj Mirzaee
Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
10.22104/hfe.2024.7170.1325
Abstract
This study presents a thermodynamic analysis of a power, refrigeration, and hydrogen production cycle utilizing geothermal energy in a binary flash cycle. The system combines a basic vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with a binary flash cycle and a PEM electrolyzer, with geothermal energy serving as the driving force. A thorough thermodynamic simulation was carried out using EES software, followed by a parametric study of the proposed cycle to evaluate its performance under varying input parameters. The results indicate that TEG 2 and the compressor exhibit the highest exergy destruction rates, as revealed by the exergy degradation rate analysis. Furthermore, increasing the temperature of the first flash tank leads to higher hydrogen and power production rates. In contrast, raising the temperature of the second flash tank results in decreased energy and exergy efficiency, as well as lower power and hydrogen generation rates. Additionally, an increase in the geothermal mass flow rate leads to a reduction in both power and hydrogen production. Finally, it is observed that a larger temperature difference causes a decrease in the hydrogen generation rate.
Keywords
Binary flash cycle
Geothermal energy
Thermodynamic analysis
Hydrogen production
Subjects
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Hydrogen, Fuel Cell & Energy Storage
Volume 13, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 187-194