A novel biogas combustion-heat recovery for cooling/power co-production system considering a modified sCO₂ cycle and a generator-absorber-exchanger (GAX) cycle: Machine learning-driven optimization and economic study


Zhang Z., Yao L., Alkhattabi K., Alkhatib O. J., Dutta A. K., Albalawi H., ...Daha Fazla

International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2026.110904
  • Dergi Adı: International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Biogas utilization, Combined cooling and power (CCP), GAX cooling cycle, Heat recovery systems, Machine learning optimization, Thermodynamic–financial analysis
  • İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Biogas-driven combined cooling and power (CCP) systems face the challenge of simultaneously optimizing thermodynamic performance and financial viability under nonlinear design and operational constraints. This study proposes a novel biogas combustion–heat recovery configuration for CCP generation, evaluated through an integrated thermodynamic–financial framework and optimized using machine learning (ML)-driven soft-computing techniques. The system integrates a biogas combustion unit, a gas turbine, a modified supercritical CO₂ cycle, and a generator–absorber–exchanger (GAX) cycle. Thermodynamic analyses based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics are employed, while sustainability, financial, and environmental indicators are incorporated into the assessment. A hybrid optimization approach, combining ML with the genetic algorithm optimizer, is implemented to accelerate convergence and explore trade-offs among net present value (NPV), total unit product cost (TUPC), and sustainability index (SI). The optimized configuration achieves an NPV of 13.03 M$, an SI of 1.765, and a TUPC of 26.5 $/GJ. Besides, the system demonstrates an energy efficiency of 62.75%, an exergy efficiency of 43.32%, and a payback period of 3.79 years, confirming technical robustness and economic viability. Overall, ML-driven soft computing enables resilient, investment-ready CCP strategies, offering a scalable plan that aligns biogas utilization with sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness.