Study on optimal configuration of solar and biogas combined heating system in northwest rural areas

In view of the configuration design of solar and biogas combined heating system in northwest rural areas, this study establishes an optimization model for capacity configuration of solar and biogas combined heating system with the objective of minimizing the levelized cost of heat (LCOH). The simulation program of the combined heating system is compiled using MATLAB/Simulink platform. The optimization model is solved by the genetic algorithm, and the accuracy of the optimization results is tested and analysed. Five typical cities in northwest areas are selected for optimization simulation, and the influence of climate resource difference in different regions on the optimization results of the combined system capacity configuration is analysed. The results show that the LCOH after optimization is 29.4% lower than that before optimization, and the energy efficiency of the solar subsystem and the total energy efficiency of the system are also improved. For Jiuquan, Xining and Yinchuan regions with rich solar energy resources, when biogas fermentation raw materials are sufficient, the renewable energy fraction of the system reaches more than 80%.