Performance Evaluation on a Novel Combined Cool/heat and Power (CCP/CHP) System Integrating an SOFC-GT Plant with a Solar-Assisted LiBr Absorption Cooling/heating Unit

Motivated by the demand for a balanced electricity and heat/cool output, as well as by the recent increasing interest on the SOFC-GT based microgrid that incorporates renewable energies, this study aims at the presentation of an “all-round” CCP/CHP system based on the integration of a modified SOFC-GT plant with a novel solar-assisted LiBr absorption unit. The SOFC-GT plant, fuelled with the natural gas (NG), allows a relative independent operation of the GT from the SOFC, and can operate with a comprehensive variable-load strategy. The SOFC-GT plant exhaust and the solar hot water, the two different heat sources, attain a perfect thermal match in the proposed double-effect LiBr absorption cycle. Performance of the proposed system is investigated through building a complete system-level mode. Results of the performance investigation are presented in terms of baseline state data and operation efficiency maps which are accompanied by a well-informed discussion on related findings. The results also represent a satisfactory completion of the research objective.