Optimal design of CHP systems for housing complexes involving weather and electric market variations

This paper presents a methodology based on multi-objective optimization techniques for designing residential cogeneration systems. There is proposed an integrated system to provide hot water and electricity for domestic use in a residential complex. The accounted objective functions are the minimization of the total annual cost and the generated greenhouse gas emissions. As optimization decisions are considered the operating regime and sizing of the central generation power equipment (in this case, an internal combustion engine) and the thermal storage tank. The model takes into account the time variation of the energy demands, different rates of purchase sale of electricity and seasonal temperature changes. Two different residential complexes from Mexico with different weather and energy demands were considered as case studies. Significant economic and environmental benefits were identified by applying the proposed methodology. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.