Volume 16: Low Carbon Cities and Urban Energy Systems: Part V

Enhanced Demand Response Flexibility of Applying Thermochemical Recuperation in a Combined Cooling, Heating and Power System Zhang Bai, Yu Yuan, Qibin Liu, Bo Zheng, Wenxin Hu

Abstract

Combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system is a promising distributed energy system, which is usually installed close to the terminal user and satisfies the diverse energy supply. Whereas, the demand-response characteristics is critical for the system feasible and efficient operation. In this work, an alternative adjust method based on the thermochemical recuperation is developed for optimizing the CCHP production, the exhaust high-temperature gas from the prime mover is first used to drive the endothermic reaction of methanol decomposition before the absorption refrigeration, thereby the exhaust waste heat realizes the enhanced cascade utilization and improves its energy level by transited into the chemical form. Both the thermodynamic performances and the flexible demand response characteristics of the system were also comprehensively investigated. Regarding to the case studies of building application in China, two scenarios of the gas turbine and the internal combustion engine as the prime movers are considered, the system thermal efficiency for CCHP production is increased by 0.82%-13.71% accompanying with a considerable fuel saving. Furthermore, the system is able to automatically adjust the recuperation thermal ratio based on the simultaneous changed terminal energy loads, the operation flexibility of source-demand matching is thus enhanced and optimized. The reasonable operation characteristics approve this promising method to achieve efficient waste heat recovery and feasible multi-energy production.

Keywords thermochemical recuperation, flexible demand response, CCHP, case study