Multi-criteria optimization of a district cogeneration plant integrating a solid oxide fuel cell–gas turbine combined cycle, heat pumps and chillers

A simultaneous optimization of the design and operation of a district heating, cooling and power generation plant supplying a small stock of residential buildings has been undertaken with regards to cost and CO2 emissions. The simulation of the plant considers a superstructure including a solid oxide fuel cell–gas turbine combined cycle, a compression heat pump, a compression chiller and/or an absorption chiller and an additional gas boiler. The Pareto-frontier obtained as the global solution of the optimization problem delivers the minimal CO2 emission rates, achievable with the technology considered for a given accepted investment, or respectively the minimal cost associated with a given emission abatement commitment.