Optimal design and performance analysis of solar hybrid CCHP system considering influence of building type and climate condition

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 174; pp. 647 - 663
• Main Authors: Yang, G., Zhai, X.Q.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Algorithms; Building energy consumption; Climate; Climate condition; Climatic conditions; Combined cooling heating and power; Computer simulation; Cooling effects; Design; Energy technology; Hospitals; Hotels; Hotels & motels; Hybrid system; Hybrid systems; Offices; Particle swarm optimization; Particle swarm optimization algorithm; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Prototypes; Solar cells; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Solar heating; Thermal analysis; Climate condition; Building energy consumption; Combined cooling heating and power; Solar energy; Particle swarm optimization algorithm; Hybrid system
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.001

Incorporating solar energy technologies to the conventional combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system has been considered as an effective solution to mitigate the looming energy and environmental challenges. The mathematical model of a conventional CCHP system hybridized with photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal collectors is built in this study. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to find the optimal size of key components of the solar hybrid CCHP system. The simulation work of solar hybrid CCHP systems in three building prototypes across seven climate zones is carried out to find appropriate design schemes of these cases. Besides, some guiding principles of the design of the solar hybrid CCHP system in early stage are summarized. The results show that the system under the following thermal load (FTL) strategy is the first choice in most cases of hospitals and hotels, except for the systems of hotels in the cold and very cold zones. On the contrary, the systems in offices perform better in the following electric load (FEL) mode in the majority of climate zones except for the hot-humid zone. Generally, the average optimal integrated performance (S) values of hospitals, hotels and offices can reach 28.95%, 28.20% and 22.69%, respectively. •The building type and climate can affect the design of solar hybrid CCHP system.•The matching performance of the novel CCHP system is good in hospital and hotel.•Solar assisted systems are useful to hotels in both two operation modes.•Solar hybrid CCHP systems have good energy-saving and environmental performance.