A Simplified Method to Predict Energy Cost Savings in Office Buildings Using a Hybrid Desiccant, Absorption Chiller, and Natural Gas Turbine Cogeneration System With Thermal Storage

This paper provides a simplified analysis tool to predict the energy savings associated with the usage of a hybrid air conditioning system that combines liquid desiccant, absorption chiller, natural gas turbine cogeneration system with thermal storage (hereafter hybrid cogeneration system) versus a watercooled centrifugal chiller with a natural gas boiler (hereafter conventional system). The hybrid cogeneration system is controlled to track both electrical and thermal loads. The simplified analysis method is formulated from detailed energy simulation models. A direct correlation has been determined between the energy cost savings of using the hybrid cogeneration system instead of the conventional system and the cogeneration capacity, peak electricity rate, and natural gas rate for five U.S. cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New York, and San Francisco.