Sviluppo e Applicazione di Metodologie per l'Ottimizzazione di Sistemi Energetici

As the plant exploits multiple different technologies for the provision of the required electric and thermal power, it is necessary to derive a proper scheduling policy, determining how the loads have to be effectively divided between the different sources, in order to obtain the maximal plant efficiency. Based on a simplified plant model, the problem is efficiently solved by applying the deterministic Dynamic Programming algorithm, and the results are compared to those attained by the adoption of a simpler rule-based policy, proving the advantages deriving from the adoption of an optimal control strategy. In the second application, the design of a hybrid solution for energy recovery from a hydraulic excavator is investigated. As different plant technological layouts may be conceived and the additional components introduced require to be properly sized, a methodology to evaluate the benchmark potentiality of each different solution needs to be derived. The comparison between the different layouts is based on the predicted performance of the machine during a standardized digging duty cycle, which are estimated with the help of a detailed plant model. As the introduction of energy recovery devices introduces additional degrees of freedom to the system, it is necessary to derive the optimal management strategies for such devices in order to derive the maximum attainable performance from each layout solution. This task is again carried out with the help of the deterministic Dynamic Programming algorithm, which exploits a control oriented simplified model of the plant, designed for the sake of the optimization. Once the best achievable performance for each design solution is obtained, it is possible to carry out a fair comparison between the available alternatives. In the th