Optimization of multi-source renewable energy air conditioning systems using a combination of transient simulation, response surface method, and 3E lifespan analysis

A new simulation-statistical optimization strategy for optimum design of a multi-source renewable energy air conditioning system that includes an absorption chiller (AC), a desiccant wheel, photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) panels, ground source heat exchanger (GSHE), and thermal energy storage unit filled with phase change materials (PCMs) is developed in this study. The strategy is created by combining the transient-based simulation and response surface method (TRN-RSM) to achieve the optimal energy, economic, and environmental (3E) design of the hybrid cooling and heating system with a realistic computational cost over the system's 25-year lifespan. Desiccant wheel and AC subsystems are used to manage the latent and sensible load of the building separately. The interaction of main design parameters on the 3E indicators is also investigated. The annual electricity and natural gas consumption of the system using the optimum system identified by TRN-RSM decreased by 14.6% and 51.8%, respectively, when compared to the conventional system. The findings reveal considerable progress in all 3E objective functions compared to conventional systems. It was also found that the electricity generated by the optimal number of PV/T panels can change the system from a financially unprofitable investment to a profitable one. •An optimization strategy for renewable air conditioning system design is presented.•The strategy integrated the numerical approach and statistical method.•The 3E performance indicators of the system analyzed during the lifespan.•Optimum system achieved by proposed procedure outperformed the conventional system.•Global warming potential diminished by 61.6% compared to the conventional system.