Computational tools and operational research for optimal design of co-generation systems

Operational research (OR) methods have been successfully applied in many industrial process. The objective of this work is to discuss the application of computational tools and OR to the study and optimisation of industrial co-generation systems. After reviewing the literature a collection of technical data on co-generation systems is made and a complete OR model (objective function and constraints) for the co-generation problems is done. In order to find the optimal solutions for the co-generation systems a computer code that solves the resulting linear programming problem was developed. The first problem presented consists in a work production system, here considered as electrical power, and heat through multi-stage turbines and condenser, respectively. The second one is a simplified system of co-generation, which will be generated electrical power from a turbine in multi-stage and heat by two heat exchangers. Finally, it was possible to note that the computational tools combined with operational research have proven to be effective in solving industrial co-generation problems.