Energy Hub’s Structural and Operational Optimization for Minimal Energy Usage Costs in Energy Systems

Thanh Tung Ha, Yongjun Zhang, Jinbao Hao, V. V. Thang, Canbing Li and Zexiang Cai
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Thanh Tung Ha: School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Yongjun Zhang: School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Jinbao Hao: School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
V. V. Thang: Department of Electric Power Systems, Thai Nguyen University of Technology, Thai Nguyen 250000, Vietnam
Canbing Li: College of Electric and Information Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Zexiang Cai: School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: The structural and optimal operation of an Energy Hub (EH) has a tremendous influence on the hub’s performance and reliability. This paper envisions an innovative methodology that prominently increases the synergy between structural and operational optimization and targets system cost affordability. The generalized energy system structure is presented theoretically with all selective hub sub-modules, including electric heater (EHe) and solar sources block sub-modules. To minimize energy usage cost, an energy hub is proposed that consists of 12 kinds of elements (i.e., energy resources, conversion, and storage functions) and is modeled mathematically in a General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS), which indicates the optimal hub structure’s corresponding elements with binary variables (0, 1). Simulation results contrast with 144 various scenarios established in all 144 categories of hub structures, in which for each scenario the corresponding optimal operation cost is previously calculated. These case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested model and methodology. Finally, avenues for future research are also prospected.

Keywords: energy conversion; energy prices; energy hub; optimal operation; optimal structure; General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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