A Birandom Chance-Constrained Linear Programming Model for CCHP System Operation Management: A Case Study of Hotel in Shanghai, China

Due to its capability to reduce fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency, the combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system has obtained great concern during the last decade. A large number of deterministic and stochastic optimization models were proposed for supporting the operation management of the CCHP system, but few studies noticed that users’ demands in the real world may be subjected to twofold randomness with incomplete or uncertain information. In this study, a birandom chance-constrained linear programming (BCCLP) model is developed for identifying optimal operation strategies under random uncertainties. Compared with traditional stochastic programming models, the BCCLP model made the improvement through describing the energy demands as the birandom variables firstly, instead of traditional random variables. This way effectively avoided potential imbalance between energy supply and demand caused by oversimplified expression of uncertain parameters. A gas-fired CCHP system of a hotel in Shanghai, China, was used as a study case for demonstration. A variety of operation strategies are obtained under specific constraints-satisfaction conditions. It is concluded that the BCCLP model was capable of generating the cost-effective operation strategies and evaluating the tradeoffs between system economy and reliability. The influence imposed by some critical parameters on the system performance was examined through the sensitivity analysis, which provided the important guidance to the design and operational management of other similar CCHP systems in the future.