Comprehensive review on cogeneration systems for low and medium temperature heat recoveries

The cogeneration system receives more research potential for sustainable development in recent years. The combined output system has plenty of combinations in assessing its performance. Presently more focus on the utilization of waste heat recovery generating heat and power, heat and cooling, power and cooling is under investigation. This study aims to provide a literature review regarding the design and performance investigation of low temperature and medium temperature heat recovery based cogeneration systems. This study provides information regarding the decision variables, process models, and working fluids examined in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC). The combined ORC-based power and cooling/refrigeration systems produce a maximum combined energy and exergy efficiencies of 47.3% and 59.16% respectively. Kalina cycle (KC)-based cogeneration system results in optimum energy and exergy efficiency values of 42% and 47%. The advanced exergy analysis for evaluating the losses in the components at the micro-level needs to be examined in combined power and cooling systems. This review details the progress in cogeneration systems suited for low temperature and medium temperature heat recovery applications. This review provides information about the cogeneration outputs and recommends examining combined power and desalination/hydrogen systems. Exergoenvironmental investigation on the cogeneration systems suitable for low temperature and medium temperature waste heat recoveries needs to be investigated.