Title: On the energy, exergy and cost optimisation of multi-energy-carrier power systems

Authors: Laura M. Ramirez-Elizondo; G.C. Paap; Remco Ammerlaan; Rudy R. Negenborn; Richard Toonssen

Addresses: Electrical Sustainable Energy Department, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628CD, the Netherlands ' Electrical Sustainable Energy Department, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628CD, the Netherlands ' Electrical Sustainable Energy Department, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628CD, the Netherlands ' Department of Marine and Transport Technology, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628CD, the Netherlands ' Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Material Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628CD, the Netherlands

Abstract: This paper introduces the exergy hub approach, a framework that can be used for the optimisation of multi-carrier energy supply systems. Moreover, this paper presents a comparison between the results of the optimal dispatch (which defines how much power should be produced by each generation unit) obtained from an exergetic efficiency optimisation and the optimal dispatch obtained from an energetic efficiency optimisation. Finally, a scheduling optimisation (which defines when to turn on or turn off a unit) is performed to identify which combination of available units gives the best exergy and energy performance for different load ratios according to the outside temperature. The results provide valuable insights about the influence of using exergy analysis as an assessment tool in the optimisation of energy supply systems with multiple energy carriers, particularly regarding the difference with respect to an energy optimisation and the effect of the outside temperature.

Keywords: exergy hub; exergy analysis; energy hub; multiple energy carriers; cost optimisation; power systems; exergetic efficiency; energetic efficiency; energy optimisation; outside temperature.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2013.057356

International Journal of Exergy, 2013 Vol.13 No.3, pp.364 - 386

Received: 31 Jul 2012
Accepted: 10 Nov 2012
Published online: 27 Oct 2013 *

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