Gas Network Optimization by MINLP


Book Description

This thesis is about mathematical optimization for an efficient operation of gas transmission networks. The challenging question is how to expand and operate the network in order to facilitate the transportation of specified gas quantities at minimum cost. This problem is a major challenge for gas network operators. It is extremely hard to solve due to the combinatorial complexity of the active network elements such as compressors, the nonlinear physical characteristic of pipelines, and the immense sizes of the problem instances. Mathematical models and optimization techniques can result in huge gains for the network operators in terms of cost reductions and automated computations. We tackle this challenge by developing novel mathematical theory and associated innovative optimization algorithms for large scale instances. This allows us to produce solutions for a real-world instance, i.e., the largest gas network in Germany.




Evaluating Gas Network Capacities


Book Description

"This book deals with a simple sounding question whether a certain amount of gas can be transported by a given pipeline network. While well studied for a single pipeline, this question gets extremely difficult if we consider a meshed nation wide gas transportation network, taking into account all the technical details and discrete decisions, as well as regulations, contracts, and varying demand. This book describes several mathematical models to answer these questions, discusses their merits and disadvantages, explains the necessary technical and regulatory background, and shows how to solve this question using sophisticated mathematical optimization algorithms."--




Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming


Book Description

Many engineering, operations, and scientific applications include a mixture of discrete and continuous decision variables and nonlinear relationships involving the decision variables that have a pronounced effect on the set of feasible and optimal solutions. Mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems combine the numerical difficulties of handling nonlinear functions with the challenge of optimizing in the context of nonconvex functions and discrete variables. MINLP is one of the most flexible modeling paradigms available for optimization; but because its scope is so broad, in the most general cases it is hopelessly intractable. Nonetheless, an expanding body of researchers and practitioners — including chemical engineers, operations researchers, industrial engineers, mechanical engineers, economists, statisticians, computer scientists, operations managers, and mathematical programmers — are interested in solving large-scale MINLP instances.




Gas Pipeline Hydraulics


Book Description

This book is concerned with the steady state hydraulics of natural gas and other compressible fluids being transported through pipelines. Our main approach is to determine the flow rate possible and compressor station horsepower required within the limitations of pipe strength, based on the pipe materials and grade. It addresses the scenarios where one or more compressors may be required depending on the gas flow rate and if discharge cooling is needed to limit the gas temperatures. The book is the result of over 38 years of the authors' experience on pipelines in North and South America while working for major energy companies such as ARCO, El Paso Energy, etc.




Power System Optimization Modeling in GAMS


Book Description

This unique book describes how the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) can be used to solve various power system operation and planning optimization problems. This book is the first of its kind to provide readers with a comprehensive reference that includes the solution codes for basic/advanced power system optimization problems in GAMS, a computationally efficient tool for analyzing optimization problems in power and energy systems. The book covers theoretical background as well as the application examples and test case studies. It is a suitable reference for dedicated and general audiences including power system professionals as well as researchers and developers from the energy sector and electrical power engineering community and will be helpful to undergraduate and graduate students.




Mathematical Optimization for Efficient and Robust Energy Networks


Book Description

This book presents a collection of energy production and distribution problems identified by the members of the COST Action TD1207 "Mathematical Optimization in the Decision Support Systems for Efficient and Robust Energy Networks". The aim of the COST Action was to coordinate the efforts of the experts in different fields, from academia and industry, in developing innovative tools for quantitative decision making, and apply them to the efficient and robust design and management of energy networks. The work covers three main goals:• to be a nimble while comprehensive resource of several real life business problems with a categorized set of pointers to many relevant prescriptive problems for energy systems;• to offer a balanced mix of scientific and industrial views;• to evolve over time in a flexible and dynamic way giving, from time to time, a more scientific or industrial - or even political in a broad sense - weighed perspective.It is addressed to researchers and professionals working in the field.




Exploiting structure in non-convex quadratic optimization and gas network planning under uncertainty


Book Description

The amazing success of computational mathematical optimization over the last decades has been driven more by insights into mathematical structures than by the advance of computing technology. In this vein, Jonas Schweiger addresses applications, where nonconvexity in the model and uncertainty in the data pose principal difficulties. In the first part, he contributes strong relaxations for non-convex problems such as the non-convex quadratic programming and the Pooling Problem. In the second part, he contributes a robust model for gas transport network extension and a custom decomposition approach. All results are backed by extensive computational studies.




Energy Optimization in Process Systems


Book Description

Despite the vast research on energy optimization and process integration, there has to date been no synthesis linking these together. This book fills the gap, presenting optimization and integration in energy and process engineering. The content is based on the current literature and includes novel approaches developed by the authors. Various thermal and chemical systems (heat and mass exchangers, thermal and water networks, energy converters, recovery units, solar collectors, and separators) are considered. Thermodynamics, kinetics and economics are used to formulate and solve problems with constraints on process rates, equipment size, environmental parameters, and costs. Comprehensive coverage of dynamic optimization of energy conversion systems and separation units is provided along with suitable computational algorithms for deterministic and stochastic optimization approaches based on: nonlinear programming, dynamic programming, variational calculus, Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman theory, Pontryagin's maximum principles, and special methods of process integration. Integration of heat energy and process water within a total site is shown to be a significant factor reducing production costs, in particular costs of utilities for the chemical industry. This integration involves systematic design and optimization of heat exchangers and water networks (HEN and WN). After presenting basic, insight-based Pinch Technology, systematic, optimization-based sequential and simultaneous approaches to design HEN and WN are described. Special consideration is given to the HEN design problem targeting stage, in view of its importance at various levels of system design. Selected, advanced methods for HEN synthesis and retrofit are presented. For WN design a novel approach based on stochastic optimization is described that accounts for both grassroot and revamp design scenarios. - Presents a unique synthesis of energy optimization and process integration that applies scientific information from thermodynamics, kinetics, and systems theory - Discusses engineering applications including power generation, resource upgrading, radiation conversion and chemical transformation, in static and dynamic systems - Clarifies how to identify thermal and chemical constraints and incorporate them into optimization models and solutions




Logistics Operations and Management


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive overview of how to strategically manage the movement and storage of products or materials from any point in the manufacturing process to customer fulfillment. Topics covered include important tools for strategic decision making, transport, packaging, warehousing, retailing, customer services and future trends. - An introduction to logistics - Provides practical applications - Discusses trends and new strategies in major parts of the logistic industry