Evaluation of the Energy Supply Options of a Manufacturing Plant by the Application of the P-Graph Framework

Abstract

Industrial applications nowadays are facing the complexity of the problem of finding an optimal energy supply composition. Heating and electricity needs vary throughout a year and need to be addressed. There is usually power available from the market, but a company has other investment options to consider, such as solar power, or utilization of local biomass. Fixed and proportional investment and operational costs must be compared to long-term cost-efficiency. The P-Graph framework is an effective tool in the design and synthesis of process networks, and is capable of showing optimal decisions. In the present work, a new P-Graph model was implemented to address the synthesis of the energy supply options of a manufacturing plant in Hungary. Compared to the original approach, a multi-periodic scheme was applied for heating and electricity demands. Also, the pelletizer and biogas plant investments are modeled in the P-Graph with a new technique that better reflects equipment capacities and flexible input ratios. The best solutions in this case study in terms of total costs are listed. It can be concluded that a long-term investment horizon is needed for the incorporation of sustainable energy sources into the system to be cost-efficient.

Elevated biogas production from the anaerobic co-digestion of farmhouse waste: Insight into the process performance and kinetics

“…The versatile use of biogas as well as the production of valuable bio-fertiliser will play a key role in the agricultural chain. However, there are ambiguous facets not clearly investigated, namely the case of multiple waste streams, microbiome, or end-products (Baek et al, 2018; Éles et al, 2019; Huang et al, 2017; Koç et al, 2019; Owczuk et al, 2019; Xu et al, 2017).…”

Modeling of a Biomass-based Energy Production Case Study Using Flexible Inputs with the P-Graph Framework

“…These two examples focus only on hydrogen and power production. Energy supply optimization may also consider other renewable energy sources simultaneously, e.g., solar power [11,12]. On the other hand, if optimization takes place from a supply chain perspective, individual technologies are often simplified and considered as black box operations.…”

Solutions selection based on the P‐graph integrated data envelopment analysis for material scheduling in the ethylene production

“…In addition, the supply mode, investment, operating costs, and longterm efficiency also need to be considered. Éles et al [23] made full use of the process network design and the comprehensive P-graph framework to reflect the equipment capacity and investment ratio. Aviso and Tan [24] obscured product demand and fuel availability in cogeneration and trigeneration systems.…”