Combined Optimal Design and Control of Hybrid Thermal-Electrical Distribution Grids Using Co-Simulation

Edmund Widl, Benedikt Leitner, Daniele Basciotti, Sawsan Henein, Tarik Ferhatbegovic and René Hofmann
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Edmund Widl: Center for Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Benedikt Leitner: Center for Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Daniele Basciotti: Center for Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Sawsan Henein: Center for Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Tarik Ferhatbegovic: Center for Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology, 1210 Vienna, Austria
René Hofmann: Center for Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology, 1210 Vienna, Austria

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Innovations in today’s energy grids are mainly driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions and the necessary integration of decentralized renewable energy sources. In this context, a transition towards hybrid distribution systems, which effectively couple thermal and electrical networks, promises to exploit hitherto unused synergies for increasing efficiency and flexibility. However, this transition poses practical challenges, starting already in the design phase where established design optimization approaches struggle to capture the technical details of control and operation of such systems. This work addresses these obstacles by introducing a design approach that enables the analysis and optimization of hybrid thermal-electrical distribution systems with explicit consideration of control. Based on a set of key prerequisites and modeling requirements, co-simulation is identified as the most appropriate method to facilitate the detailed analysis of such systems. Furthermore, a methodology is presented that links the design process with the implementation of different operational strategies. The approach is then successfully applied to two real-world applications, proving its suitability for design optimization under realistic conditions. This provides a significant extension of established tools for the design optimization of multi-energy systems.

Keywords: design optimization; control and operation; multi-carrier energy systems; co-simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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