In designing energy supply systems, designers should heighten the robustness in performance criteria against the uncertainty in energy demands. In this paper, a robust optimal design method using a hierarchical mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) method is proposed to maximize the robustness of energy supply systems under uncertain energy demands based on a mixed-integer linear model. A robust optimal design problem is formulated as a three-level min-max-min MILP one by expressing uncertain energy demands by intervals, evaluating the robustness in a performance criterion based on the minimax regret criterion, and considering relationships among integer design variables, uncertain energy demands, and integer and continuous operation variables. This problem is solved by evaluating upper and lower bounds for the minimum of the maximum regret of the performance criterion repeatedly outside, and evaluating lower and upper bounds for the maximum regret repeatedly inside. Different types of optimization problems are solved by applying a hierarchical MILP method developed for ordinary optimal design problems without and with its modifications. In a case study, the proposed approach is applied to the robust optimal design of a cogeneration system. Through the study, its validity and effectiveness are ascertained, and some features of the obtained robust designs are clarified.
It is important to design multi-energy supply systems optimally in consideration of their operations for variations in energy demands. An approach for efficiently solving such an optimal design problem with a large number of periods for variations in energy demands is to derive an approximate optimal design solution by time series aggregation. However, such an approach does not provide any information on the accuracy for the optimal value of the objective function. In this paper, an effective approach for time series aggregation is proposed to derive an approximate optimal design solution and evaluate a proper gap between the upper and lower bounds for the optimal value of the objective function based on a mixed-integer linear model. In accordance with aggregation, energy demands are relaxed to uncertain parameters and the problem for deriving an approximate optimal design solution and evaluating it is transformed to a three-level optimization problem, and it is solved by applying both the robust and hierarchical optimization methods. A case study is conducted on a cogeneration system with a practical configuration, and it turns out that the proposed approach enables one to derive much smaller gaps as compared with those obtained by a conventional approach.
Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) methods have been applied widely to optimal design of energy supply systems. A hierarchical MILP method has been proposed to solve such optimal design problems efficiently. In addition, some strategies have been proposed to enhance the computation efficiency furthermore. As one of the strategies, a method of reducing model by time aggregation has been proposed to search design candidates efficiently in the relaxed optimal design problem at the upper level. In this paper, the hierarchical MILP method with the strategies is extendedly applied to the optimal design of energy supply systems with storage units. Especially, the method of reducing model is extended by aggregating both representative days and sampling times separately in consideration of the characteristics of energy storage units. A case study is conducted on the optimal design of a cogeneration system with a thermal storage tank. Through the study, it turns out the hierarchical MILP method is effective to derive the optimal solutions in short computation times. It also turns out that the model reduction with day and time aggregations is effective to shorten the computation times furthermore when the number of candidates for equipment capacities is relatively small.
Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) methods have been applied widely to optimal design of energy supply systems. A hierarchical MILP method has been proposed to solve such optimal design problems efficiently. In addition, some strategies have been proposed to enhance the computation efficiency furthermore. As one of the strategies, a method of reducing model by time aggregation has been proposed to search design candidates efficiently in the relaxed optimal design problem at the upper level. In this paper, the hierarchical MILP method with the strategies is extendedly applied to the optimal design of energy supply systems with storage units. Especially, the method of reducing model is extended by aggregating both representative days and sampling times separately in consideration of the characteristics of energy storage units. A case study is conducted on the optimal design of a cogeneration system with a thermal storage tank. Through the study, it turns out the hierarchical MILP method is effective to derive the optimal solutions in short computation times. It also turns out that the model reduction with day and time aggregations is effec- tive to shorten the computation times furthermore when the number of candidates for equipment capacities is relatively small.
The mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) method has been applied widely to optimal design of energy supply systems. A hierarchical MILP method has been proposed to solve such optimal design problems efficiently. In addition, a method of reducing model by time aggregation has been proposed to search design candidates accurately and efficiently at the upper level. In this paper, the hierarchical MILP method and model reduction by time aggregation are applied to the multiobjective optimal design. The methods of clustering periods by the order of time series, by the k-medoids method, and based on an operational strategy are applied for the model reduction. As a case study, the multiobjective optimal design of a gas turbine cogeneration system is investigated by adopting the annual total cost and primary energy consumption as the objective functions, and the clustering methods are compared with one another in terms of the computation efficiency. It turns out that the model reduction by any clustering method is effective to enhance the computation efficiency when importance is given to minimizing the first objective function, but that the model reduction only by the k-medoids method is effective very limitedly when importance is given to minimizing the second objective function.
To realize the best performance in energy supply, it is an important task to determine types, capacities, and numbers of energy conversion equipment appropriately. It is also necessary to take account of seasonal and hourly variations in energy demands and corresponding operational strategies of equipment. The mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) method has been utilized widely to derive the optimal solution for such a design problem. From the design viewpoint, it is important to generate not only the optimal solution but also suboptimal ones which follow the optimal one without omission, what are called K-best solutions. In this paper, an MILP method utilizing the hierarchical relationship between design and operation variables is applied along with some strategies to efficiently drive K-best solutions of a multiobjective optimal design problem of a gas turbine cogeneration system for district energy supply. The annual total cost and primary energy consumption are adopted as the objective functions to be minimized. A case study is conducted, and K-best solutions with an allowable increase in the value of the combined objective function are derived for each value of the weight for the annual total cost. Through the study, it is clarified how the weight affects the computation time, the number of the K-best solutions, and the design specifications and the values of the objective functions for the K-best solutions.
In designing energy supply systems, it is important to consider the uncertainty in energy demands, evaluate the robustness in some performance criteria, and heighten the robustness. A robust optimal design method has been previously proposed to maximize the robustness in a single performance criterion against the uncertainty in energy demands based on a mixed-integer linear model. In this paper, as a preliminary step toward multiobjective robust optimal design, a method of evaluating robustness in multiple performance criteria against the uncertainty in energy demands is proposed based on a mixed-integer linear model. The problems of evaluating the robustness in the performance criteria are formulated as bilevel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) ones. They are solved by evaluating lower and upper bounds for the maximum regrets in the performance criteria alternately and repeatedly with the aid of a solution method based on reformulation and decomposition. In addition, for the purpose of applying the proposed method to practical problems, a hierarchical MILP method is used to efficiently solve some MILP problems in the solution process. Through a case study on a cogeneration system, the robustness in the annual total cost and primary energy consumption is evaluated and its trade-off relationship is clarified.
In designing energy supply systems, it is important to consider the uncertainty in energy demands, evaluate the robustness in some performance criteria, and heighten the robustness. A robust optimal design method has been previously proposed to maximize the robustness in a single performance criterion against the uncertainty in energy demands based on a mixed-integer linear model. In this paper, as a preliminary step toward multiobjective robust optimal design, a method of evaluating robustness in multiple performance criteria against the uncertainty in energy demands is proposed based on a mixed-integer linear model. The problems of evaluating the robustness in the performance criteria are formulated as bilevel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) ones. They are solved by evaluating lower and upper bounds for the maximum regrets in the performance criteria alternately and repeatedly with the aid of a solution method based on reformulation and decomposition. In addition, for the purpose of applying the proposed method to practical problems, a hierarchical MILP method is used to efficiently solve some MILP problems in the solution process. Through a case study on a cogeneration system, the robustness in the annual total cost and primary energy consumption is evaluated and its trade-off relationship is clarified. As a result, it turns out how the values of these performance criteria are close to the optimal ones in relation to the uncertainty in energy demands. This work will be an important step toward developing a multiobjective robust optimal design method.
Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) methods have been applied widely to optimal design of energy supply systems in consideration of multi-period operation. A hierarchical MILP method has been proposed to solve such optimal design problems efficiently. An original problem has been solved by dividing it into a relaxed optimal design problem at the upper level and optimal operation problems which are independent of one another at the lower level. In addition, some strategies have been proposed to enhance the computation efficiency furthermore. In this paper, a method of reducing model by time aggregation is proposed as a novel strategy to search design candidates efficiently in the relaxed optimal design problem at the upper level. In addition, the previous strategies are modified in accordance with the novel strategy. This method is realized only by clustering periods and averaging energy demands for clustered periods, while it guarantees to derive the optimal solution. Thus, it may decrease the computation time at the upper level. Through a case study on the optimal design of a gas turbine cogeneration system, it is clarified how the model reduction is effective to enhance the computation efficiency in comparison and combination with the modified previous strategies.
Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) methods have been applied widely to optimal design of en- ergy supply systems in consideration of multi-period operation. A hierarchical MILP method has been proposed to solve such optimal design problems efficiently. An original problem has been solved by dividing it into a relaxed optimal design problem at the upper level and optimal operation problems which are independent of one another at the lower level. In addition, some strategies have been pro- posed to enhance the computation efficiency furthermore. In this paper, a method of reducing model by time aggregation is proposed as a novel strategy to search design candidates efficiently in the relaxed optimal design problem at the upper level. In addition, the previous strategies are modified in accor- dance with the novel strategy. This method is realized only by clustering periods and averaging energy demands for clustered periods, while it guarantees to derive the optimal solution. Thus, it may decrease the computation time at the upper level. Through a case study on the optimal design of a gas turbine cogeneration system, it is clarified how the model reduction is effective to enhance the computation efficiency in comparison and combination with the modified previous strategies.