A robust capacity configuration selection method of multiple-chiller system concerned with the uncertainty of annual hourly load profile

Abstract

In conventional method, capacity configuration of multiple-chiller system is optimized to achieve the required annual EER (energy efficiency ratio) limit according to a certain annual hourly load profile. However, it usually results in that the required annual EER limit may not be reached because the uncertainty of annual hourly load profile is not concerned. To improve the tolerance for uncertainty of annual hourly load profile, this paper presents a robust method of capacity configuration selection of multiple-chiller system. The maximum acceptable uncertainty region is defined as the maximum range of load variation that a capacity configurated multiple-chiller system can satisfy the required annual EER limit. The robustness index of a capacity configuration is defined according to the area of the maximum acceptable uncertainty region. A novel configuration framework is proposed based on robustness index. The proposed method is validated by configuring multiple-chiller system of a factory building. Results show that multiple-chiller system configurated by proposed method is more robust than that by conventional method. The proposed method can ensure the annual EER of multiple-chiller system to satisfy the required annual EER limit with uncertainty of annual hourly load profile, and its reliability is improved by 14% compared with conventional method.