Energy-Exergy Based Analysis of a Novel μ-Cogeneration System in the Presence of Demand Response Programs

Abstract— This paper models and optimally schedules a solar co-generation plant which is powered by a Stirling engine in the presence of cooling and electrical demand response programs. An absorber and a thermal energy storage tank are installed to absorb and store all collected solar radiation for continuous energy suppling when sunlight is insufficient, and nighttime. In this paper, an air source heat pump that is equipped with two inside and outside air fans, an expansion valve, compressor, condenser and an evaporator is proposed to cool a benchmark residential building under hot climate. A comprehensive energy and exergy based optimization is developed as a nonlinear program to minimize total energy procurement cost in the presence of air source heat pump, prime mover and demand response constraints. It is found that electrical and cooling demand response programs result in lower operational costs.