Operation Strategy Analysis and Configuration Optimization of Solar CCHP System

Abstract

This paper proposed a new type of combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) system, including the parabolic trough solar thermal (PTST) power generation and gas turbine power generation. The thermal energy storage subsystem in the PTST unit provides both thermal energy and electrical energy. Based on the life cycle method, the configuration optimization under eight operation strategies is studied with the economy, energy, and environment indicators. The eight operation strategies include FEL, FEL-EC, FEL-TES, FEL-TES&EC, FTL, FTL-EC, FTL-TES, and FTL-TES&EC. The feasibility of each strategy is verified by taking a residential building cluster as an example. The indicators under the optimal configuration of each strategy are compared with that of the separate production (SP) system. The results showed that the PTST-CCHP system improves the environment and energy performance by changing the ratio of thermal energy and electric energy. The environment and energy indicators of FEL-TES&EC are superior to those of FTL-TES&EC in summer, and the results are just the opposite in winter. The initial annual investment of the PTST-CCHP system is higher than that of the SP system, but its economic performance is better than that of the SP system with the increase of life-cycle.