SPREAD - Exploring the decision space in energy systems synthesis

- Method to span and analyze the near-optimal decision space.
- Efficient generation of solutions in the acceptable range of the objective function.
- Range of decision space is identified for both number and capacity of equipment.
- Correlations between decisions are determined using correlation coefficients.
- Results support the decision maker in adapting the optimal solution to reality.

A method is presented to systematically analyze the decision space in the synthesis of energy supply systems. Commonly, synthesis problems are solved by mathematical optimization yielding a single optimal design. However, optimization is based on a model which never represents reality to perfection. Thus, the designer will be forced to revise parts of the optimal solution. We therefore support the design process by automatically identifying important features of good solutions. For this purpose, we analyze near-optimal solutions. To explore the decision space, we minimize and maximize both the number and the capacity of units while keeping the costs within a specified range. From this analysis, we derive insight into correlations between decisions. To support the decision maker, we represent the range of good design decisions and their correlations in the flowsheet of the energy system. The method is illustrated for the synthesis of an energy system in the pharmaceutical industry.

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