Optimal Management of the Energy Flows of Interconnected Residential Users

Lucrezia Manservigi,Mauro Venturini,Mattia Cattozzo,Hilal Bahlawan,Pier Ruggero Spina

doi:10.3390/en13061507

Abstract

In recent years, residential users have begun to be equipped with micro-CHP (combined heat and power) generation technologies with the aim of decreasing primary energy consumption and reducing environmental impact. In these systems, the prime mover supplies both thermal and electrical energy, and an auxiliary boiler and the national electrical grid are employed as supplementary systems. In this paper, a simulation model, which accounts for component efficiency and energy balance, was developed to replicate the interaction between the users and the energy systems in order to minimize primary energy consumption. The simulation model identified the optimal operation strategy of two residential users by investigating different energy system configurations by means of a dynamic programming algorithm. The reference scenario was compared to three different scenarios by considering independent energy systems, shared thermal and electrical energy storage and also the shared prime mover. Such a comparison allowed the identification of the most suitable energy system configuration and optimized operation strategy. The results demonstrate that the optimized operation strategy smoothes the influence of the size of thermal and electrical energy storage. Moreover, the saving of primary energy consumption can be as high as 5.1%. The analysis of the economic feasibility reveals that the investment cost of the prime mover can be as high as 4000 €/kW.

Highlights

The analyses carried out in this paper were aimed at evaluating (i) primary energy consumption, (ii) prime mover (PM) working hours, (iii) thermal and electrical energy share and (iv) optimal operation strategy identified by the Dynamic programming (DP) algorithm, which allows the minimization of the primary energy consumption
This result, which differs from most studies reported in the literature, is obtained thanks to the operation strategy identified through a dynamic programming algorithm
Another significant achievement is the quantification of the primary energy saving that can be achieved by exploiting micro-combined heat and power (CHP) technologies

Summary

Introduction

Several studies have focused on alternative energy production systems with the aim of reducing emissions and primary energy consumption with a target of 20% in the EU by 2020 [1], tackling climate change based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [2] and the EU climate and energy framework [3]. The exploitation of district energy systems and smart grids contributes to this goal. District energy systems allow heating and cooling demand to be fulfilled [5]. In this case, the energy system is defined and/or designed for process decentralization, allowing improvements in energy efficiency by reducing carbon employment and enhancing renewable resource exploitation [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion