2018 Volume 43 Issue 255 Pages 47-52
The heat source machines in heat plants are usually operated by setting the control according to the thermal load. However, it is difficult to achieve efficient operation by simply setting the control, because of the difference in performance characteristics of the heat source machines. In addition, it cannot be expected to use thermal storage and heat recovery machines effectively. Therefore we developed an advanced intelligent operation system for heat plants. The developed operation system consists of a thermal load estimation part, an optimization tool, and a heat plant simulator. The optimization tool creates the objective function and constraint equations automatically, and sets the parameters flexibly for the optimal operation of the heat plant. The operational strategy for the centrifugal refrigerators, heat pumps, and thermal storage tanks with respect to the estimated thermal load is calculated by the optimization method in order to minimize the energy charge for the consumption of electricity and water. The plant simulator verifies the validity of the optimal operational strategy, makes the operational schedule for the automatic operation, and evaluates the effect of optimization on the economic efficiency after the operation. The operation has been performed automatically since March, 2017. The optimal operation has been performed since June, 2017, achieving efficient operation of the heat source machines.
