Availability analysis of an Energy Hub with CCHP system for economical design in terms of Energy Hub operator

The efficient and correct design of an Energy Hub (EH) is associated with the improvement in energy conversion efficiency and EH profitability. The novel method of coupling thermo-economic analysis with reliability and risk assessment offers incredible potential in improving the overall performance of the whole system from the cost and energy-saving aspect. In this study, a cost-efficient EH plant consisting of combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system is designed to be economically optimum regarding the EH operator. On the demand side, the energy consumer is a high-rise residential building that provides its cooling and heating demands through the EH. As a new optimization approach, an optimum cost-efficient EH has been designed by coupling the thermoeconomic analysis along with reliability and availability assessments. System total cost is compared with the conventional planning method, where the system availability and reliability of the EH components are not considered in the optimization model. The new planning method reveals 119%, 69%, 74%, and 16% reduction in the system energy cost, demand penalty cost, operation cost, and total cost during the EH life span, respectively. Additionally, a new index as real availability is calculated and introduced based on the energy demand profile of the EH. Unlike the Markov method, where an available system is defined in such a way that all subsystems are healthy, the new approach introduces the EH availability following the energy demand profile. In this regard, results prove a vast difference comparing Markov-based availability and system real availability.

Automated summary

The efficient and correct design of an Energy Hub (EH) can improve energy conversion efficiency and profitability. Combining thermo-economic analysis with reliability and risk assessment has the potential to greatly enhance overall system performance, leading to reductions in system energy cost, demand penalty cost, operation cost, and total cost.