Special Issue: Modeling and Simulation of Energy Systems

Thomas A Adams

doi:10.3390/pr7080523

Abstract

This editorial provides a brief overview of the Special Issue “Modeling and Simulation of Energy Systems.” This Special Issue contains 21 research articles describing some of the latest advances in energy systems engineering that use modeling and simulation as a key part of the problem-solving methodology. Although the specific computer tools and software chosen for the job are quite variable, the overall objectives are the same—mathematical models of energy systems are used to describe real phenomena and answer important questions that, due to the hugeness or complexity of the systems of interest, cannot be answered experimentally on the lab bench. The topics explored relate to the conceptual process design of new energy systems and energy networks, the design and operation of controllers for improved energy systems performance or safety, and finding optimal operating strategies for complex systems given highly variable and dynamic environments. Application areas include electric power generation, natural gas liquefaction or transportation, energy conversion and management, energy storage, refinery applications, heat and refrigeration cycles, carbon dioxide capture, and many others. The case studies discussed within this issue mostly range from the large industrial (chemical plant) scale to the regional/global supply chain scale.

Highlights

Energy systems are currently a subject of rapidly growing interest within the engineering research community
Since the possible consequences are so alarming, energy systems engineering has become an extremely important area of research since one key aspect of solving this problem relates to the development of energy systems with far lower environmental impacts
Energy is used in very diverse ways at scales from large to very small, large-scale systems, such as electric power plants, chemical plants, refineries, and oil and gas supply chains, are the easiest targets for improvement and the likeliest places where meaningful environmental impact reductions can be achieved

Summary

Introduction

Energy systems are currently a subject of rapidly growing interest within the engineering research community. Energy conversion and consumption impacts most aspects of our lives, including the food we eat, the water we drink, the products we buy, how we battle the elements, how we communicate, how we move people and goods from place to place, how we work, and even how we are entertained This has always been true throughout human history, the scale at which energy is consumed today is larger and expanding more quickly than ever before. Energy is used in very diverse ways at scales from large to very small, large-scale systems, such as electric power plants, chemical plants, refineries, and oil and gas supply chains, are the easiest targets for improvement and the likeliest places where meaningful environmental impact reductions can be achieved This is why almost all of the systems discussed in this Special Issue are in these application areas and, at large scales, range from 100 MW to 1000 MW class plants to massive international supply chains. Asinvolved, a consequence of thesmall large scales involved, even to relatively percentage large scales even relatively percentage improvements efficiencysmall or emissions can improvements to efficiency or emissions result in meaningful large-scale impacts. can result in meaningful large-scale impacts

Modeling Types

Implementation and Solution Frameworks

Issue Summary