Multi-objective optimization of CCHP system with hybrid chiller under new electric load following operation strategy

The performance of combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system is greatly affected by its operating strategy and design. In this paper, a new electric load following (NELF) strategy was developed. It is based on the alternation between absorption cooling and electric cooling according to the building energy requirements, for hybrid chiller based CCHP systems. A comparison of the new proposed strategy with the modified electric load following (MELF) and electric load following (ELF) strategies is performed. A multi-objective optimization approach based on genetic algorithm is carried out to predict the optimal capacity of CCHP systems. Performance criteria like primary energy consumption, annual total cost and carbon dioxide emission were considered as objective functions. The performances of these CCHP systems and operation strategies were examined and compared with the separated production (SP) system for a Mosque complex located in Algiers, Algeria. Results show that hybrid chiller CCHP based NELF strategy is the best choice, which can reduce the primary energy consumption by 34.45 GWh/year, annual total cost by 0.313 million €/year and carbon dioxide emission by 8.37 kton/year. Compared to the other configurations and strategies, the hybrid CCHP based NELF achieves better energetic, economic and environmental performance under the optimized conditions.