Feasible Actuator Range Modifier (FARM), a Tool Aiding the Solution of Unit Dispatch Problems for Advanced Energy Systems

Haoyu Wang (), Roberto Ponciroli, Andrea Alfonsi, Paul W. Talbot, Thomas W. Elmer, Aaron S. Epiney and Richard B. Vilim
Additional contact information
Haoyu Wang: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
Roberto Ponciroli: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
Andrea Alfonsi: Nucube Energy, Inc., Pasadena, CA 91103, USA
Paul W. Talbot: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Thomas W. Elmer: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
Aaron S. Epiney: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Richard B. Vilim: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-36

Abstract: Integrated energy systems (IESs) seek to minimize power generating costs in future power grids through the coupling of different energy technologies. To accommodate fluctuations in load demand due to the penetration of renewable energy sources, flexible operation capabilities must be fully exploited, and even power plants that are traditionally considered as base-load units need to be operated according to unconventional paradigms. Thermomechanical loads induced by frequent power adjustments can accelerate the wear and tear. If a unit is flexibly operated without respecting limits on materials, the risk of failures of expensive components will eventually increase, nullifying the additional profits ensured by flexible operation. In addition to the bounds on power variations (explicit constraints),the solution of the unit dispatch problem needs to meet the limits on the variation of key process variables, including temperature, pressure and flow rate (implicit constraints).The FARM (Feasible Actuator Range Modifier) module was developed to enable existing optimization algorithms to identify solutions to the unit dispatch problem that are both economically favorable and technologically sustainable. Thanks to the iterative dispatcher–validator scheme, FARM permits addressing all the imposed constraints without excessively increasing the computational costs. In this work, the algorithms constituting the module are described, and the performance was assessed by solving the unit dispatch problem for an IES composed of three units, i.e., balance of plant, gas turbine, and high-temperature steam electrolysis. Finally, the FARM module provides dedicated tools for visualizing the response of the constrained variables of interest during operational transients and a tool aiding the operator at making decisions. These techniques might represent the first step towards the deployment of an ecological interface design (EID) for IES units.

Keywords: unit dispatch problem; integrated energy system; command governor; ecological interface design (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/12/2945/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/12/2945/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:12:p:2945-:d:1415234

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().