Exergoeconomic optimization of tetra-combined trigeneration system

Abstract

This work aims at obtaining optimal configurations of trigeneration systems in order to satisfy required demands for electricity and thermal loads for heating and cooling, evaluating the impact of the electricity, steam and chilled water production costs. A trigeneration system produces electricity, heat and cooling effect using electricity or heat available. Emphasis is made on systems using absorption chillers, including one using a hybrid absorption ejecto-compression chiller, here called tetra-combined trigeneration system. The performance evaluation of systems is carried out by the application of exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of the proposed alternatives in order to determine exergy efficiency and exergy based costs on production of system utilities. The Genetic Algorithms method has been chosen for optimization to show the applicability of evolutionary techniques in trigeneration plants. The optimization shows important profits in the exergy based costs of products, by means of the exergetic efficiency maximization of the different trigeneration systems.