Abstract: Energy saving is one of the important indicators to evaluate the performance of a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system. In this paper, the principle of active energy storage regulation method for CCHP systems is introduced. A parameter termed relative energy saving ratio is used for the evaluation of energy consumption of the CCHP systems. Based on the analyses of load characteristics of users and performance of gas turbines under partial load conditions, energy saving and associated influence factors are investigated using cooling conditions and electrical demands of a typical restaurant in summer time. The results show that the active energy storage regulation method could improve all-operation performance of primer. The relative energy saving of a CCHP system without energy storage is 11.8%, whereas the relative energy saving of a CCHP with energy storage is 21.6%. The relative energy saving is affected by the coefficient of performance of electrical compression refrigeration system and the ratio of cold and electricity of users. The higher the coefficient of performance of the electrical compression refrigeration system, the lower the relative energy saving of CCHP. The relative energy saving increases with increasing ratio of cold and electricity of users.

Key words: CCHP, energy storage, energy saving, user load