Analysis of inlet air throttling operation method for gas turbine in performance of CCHP system under different operation strategies

Highlights: • We presented the performance of a CCHP system with the IAT operation method. • The different operation strategies are employed to analyze the influence on indicators. • The supply-demand matching between the energy system and users are performed. • The sensitivity analyses of main component and economic parameters are presented. - Abstract: An appropriate operation strategy is the requirement to obtain high-efficiency performance of a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system. In this paper, the inlet air throttling (IAT) operation method for gas turbine combined with following the electric load (FEL), following the thermal load (FTL) and following the hybrid electric-thermal load (FHL) operation strategies are employed to analyze the primary energy consumption (PEC), carbon dioxide emission (CDE) and operation cost (COST) with respect to a CCHP system in Beijing, China. The matching between the different operation strategies and the energy demands of the reference building are analyzed to reveal the energy saving mechanism. The results indicate that the CCHP system is superior to the separate system on annual evaluation regardless of which operation strategy is used. Moreover, the economic performances of different operation strategies are evaluated based on the payback period (PBP). Finally, the sensitivity analyses of main component parameters and economic factors are presented for the PEC and PBP of the CCHP system, respectively. This study may provide a guidance to utilize the IAT operation method economically and efficiently.