Optimization and analysis of CCHP system based on energy loads coupling of residential and office buildings

This paper analyzes the effect of applying a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system in two types of buildings: residential and office buildings in Dalian, China. The CCHP system configuration was optimized by adding an air-conditioning system (AC) and a heat storage tank (HST) in each type of building sequentially. The optimal problem was formulated as a nonlinear programming problem to save energy, reduce the total cost, and attain excellent environmental performance using a genetic algorithm model. In view of energy loads coupling of the above buildings, the ratio of the residential floor area to the total area, indicating the total floor area of residential and office buildings, was presented and optimized at the neighborhood level. Moreover, a numerical study was conducted in Dalian to evaluate the feasibility study of adding the AC and HST to the CCHP system and also analyze the energy loads coupling of residential and office buildings. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to show how the gas price affects the entire system. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.