A methodology to obtain the foremost type and optimal size of the prime mover of a CCHP system for a large-scale residential application

An innovative procedure was proposed for the optimal design and deployment of the CCHP systems for usage in a residential building, considering their application in various climatic conditions. Energy demands of the building were estimated at six different climatic zones. The preliminary CCHP plant based on different prime-movers, including internal-combustion engine, gas turbines, Stirling-engine, and the molten carbonate fuel cell was modeled. Multi-objective optimizations based on energy, economic and environmental (3E) objective functions were implemented to determine the optimal capacity of prime-movers. The final solution at each area was obtained in two steps. First, multi-criteria decision-making techniques (Fuzzy, TOPSIS, and LINMAP) were used to select the best CCHP configurations among the Pareto optimal sets. Second, a new class of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to prioritize the optimal solutions based on each prime-mover in any zone. Results show that the ICE-based CCHP system was the most beneficial alternative for use in the residential sector at all climates. CCHP systems based on GTs and SEs come as the next priorities, respectively. It was found that in determining an appropriate CCHP system, the type of technology is more important than the climatic conditions.