An approach to optimize the cycling operation of conventional combined heat and power plants

Abstract

The implementation of the market mechanism, which includes electricity price fluctuation, and a wide integration of intermittent generation, namely solar PV and wind energy, in energy production have changed the role and operation manner of conventional generation. It is partly or not at all adapted to new running conditions. Therefore, the efficiency and flexibility of conventional generation has to be improved. The numerical approach is developed in the context of combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology to adapt its running conditions to the electricity market mechanism. The developed approach was verified on a case study of the Baltic States (Latvia) examples in a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment MATLab. The obtained results show that the added profit is gained through production of supplementary electricity, and the impact of cycling operation is reduced through the decrease of cycling operation ranges numbers and the substitution of start-up with a less adverse one from a technical and economical point of view. The developed approach can be adapted to various technologies and situations by adding appropriate characteristics and constraints of technology.