Compared with the separate production (SP) system

the combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) system is the development trend of distributed energy system in the future owing to its advantages of higher efficiency

less pollution and cascade utilization of energy. By combining solar energy with CCHP

the photovoltaic solar-thermal integration CCHP (PVST-CCHP) system and the comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic/thermal solar energy (PVCU-CCHP) system are designed. At the same time

two kinds of operation modes are available

i.e.

ordering power by heating and ordering heating by power. Based on the life cycle

a multi-indices evaluation system of energy

environment

economy and comprehensiveevaluation is established. With the help of case studies

the operation control strategies of PVST-CCHP and PVCU-CCHP system are evaluated through the SP system as a reference. On this basis

the installation quantity of units and the capacity of gas turbines of the optimal CCHP system are obtained with the particle swarm optimization algorithm. As a result

maximization of comprehensive benefits is realized that provides reference to integrated application of solar energy in the CCHP system. This work is supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2015AA050104) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51177036).