Thermoeconomic modeling and parametric study of a photovoltaic-assisted 1 MWe combined cooling, heating, and power system

Abstract

In this study a small-scale, completely autonomous combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system is coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) subsystem, to investigate the possibility of reducing fuel consumption. The CCHP system generates electrical energy with the use of a simple gas turbine cycle, with a rated nominal power output of 1 MWe. The nominal power output of the PV subsystem is examined in a parametric study, ranging from 0 to 600 kWe, to investigate which configuration results in a minimum lifecycle cost (LCC) for a system lifetime of 20 years of service. The load profile considered is applied for a complex of households in Nicosia, Cyprus. The solar data for the PV subsystem are taken on an hourly basis for a whole year. The results suggest that apart from economic benefits, the proposed system also results in high efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. The parametric study shows that the optimum PV capacity is 300 kWe. The minimum lifecycle cost for the PV-assisted CCHP system is found to be 3.509 million €, as compared to 3.577 million € for a system without a PV subsystem. The total cost for the PV subsystem is 547,445 €, while the total cost for operating the system (fuel) is 731,814 € (compared to 952,201 € for a CCHP system without PVs). Overall the proposed system generates a total energy output of 210,520 kWh (during its whole lifetime), which translates to a unit cost of 17 €/kWh.