A Reliability-Based Optimization Model for Operational Management of CCHP System

The combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system has been explored extensively due to its ability to reduce the carbon dioxide emission and improve the energy-utilization efficiency. However, the existing studies associated with CCHP system rarely concerned for the system reliability, although it was capable of enhancing the stability of operational patterns. In this study, predefined reliability coefficient (i.e., r) was incorporated innovatively into a CCHP system optimization model in order to examine the influence of reliability level on model results. A variety of solutions under different r values were obtained, which effectively reflected the trade-off between system economy and reliability. The CCHP system of a hotel in Shanghai, China, was used as a study case for demonstration. The generated results indicated that the system cost would increase with the increase of reliability level; meanwhile, the user requirements in cooling, heating and electricity were ensured greatly. The successful application of proposed optimization model in real case is expected to be a good example for CCHP system management.