Optimization of Water-Energy Networks Using Stochastic Algorithms
Abstract
Water – Energy nexus problem continues to gain traction and provides a
comprehensive picture accounting for the nexuses which are generally omitted in isolated
analysis. Several works have been dedicated to synthesis of optimal water and heat
network but more work needs to been done to model the synergies between two networks
thereby harnessing them for more efficient networks and adding the utility network into
the model to make it more inclusive. This work presents an effort to analyze and
mathematically model these nexuses, add the utility network to the model thereby making
it more representative of actual scenario and synthesize an efficient water-energy network.
Apart from the work water-energy network, the work focusses on development of
new tools to solve resource optimization problem. This work develops an alternative and
novel search technique and utilizes stochastic algorithms Simulated Annealing (SA) and
Tabu Search (TS) in developing solvers for Water - Energy Nexus problems. The
architecture of the solver together with its components have been defined and presented
in detail and their performance has been analyzed. The combined water-heat network
synthesis problem has been formulated into a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming
(MINLP) and solved using the solvers developed. Illustrative case study representing
different policies on water-energy interaction have been solved and the tradeoffs across
the networks have been analyzed.
Citation
Bishnu, Sumit Kumar (2020). Optimization of Water-Energy Networks Using Stochastic Algorithms. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /191563.