Optimal Operation of a Diesel Engine Cogeneration Plant Including a Heat Storage Tank

Abstract

The effect of heat storage on a cogeneration plant is investigated using a mathematical programming approach. For a diesel engine plant, an optimal planning method is presented by which the operational policy of constituent equipment is determined together with the charging history of a heat storage tank so as to minimize the daily operational cost. An algorithm is designed to solve this optimization problem efficiently by combining the dynamic programming method with the mixed-integer programming one. Through a case study, it is made clear how the volume of the heat storage tank influences the daily operational policy and the long-term economy of the total plant.