Analysis and sizing of thermal energy storage in combined heating, cooling and power plants for buildings

Highlights: ► Novel method to estimate the contribution of thermal energy storage in CHCP plants. ► Simple and accurate analysis of contributions of thermal storage. ► Application to the assessment and optimal sizing of thermal storage in CHCP plants. ► Thermal storage increases efficiency, coverage and economic benefit. ► Thermal storage allows increasing efficient operation of the plant. - Abstract: Thermal energy storage (TES) can lead to significant energy savings and economic benefits in combined heating, cooling and power plants (CHCPs) for buildings in the tertiary sector. However, their complex interactions with the rest of the CHCP system make their adequate sizing difficult without using extensive and detailed simulations. The authors have developed a new method to evaluate the thermal contribution of TES based on simple procedures. Comparisons with detailed simulations for a range of situations confirm the ability of this method to predict the effect of TES on CHCP systems with good approximation, as well as to find the optimal size in a relatively simple manner and with few required data. The case studies show a strong dependence of the TES contribution on the demands profile and the operation strategy. However, adequately sized TES are proven to bring relevant energy savings as well as economic profit to CHCP plants. In this paper, sizing procedures are provided to find the optimal volume both in terms of thermodynamic efficiency and of economic profit