Optimum design of a hybrid diesel-ORC / photovoltaic system using PSO: Case study for the city of Cujubim, Brazil

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2018-01, Vol.142, p.33-45
• Main Authors: Galindo Noguera, Ana Lisbeth, Mendoza Castellanos, Luis Sebastian, Silva Lora, Electo Eduardo, Melian Cobas, Vladimir Rafael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batteries; Case studies; Computer simulation; Design; Design engineering; Diesel; Diesel generator; Diesel generators; Electric power; Electric power demand; Electric power generation; Exhaust emissions; Exhaust gases; Gases; Heat recovery; Hybrid system; Hybrid systems; Objective function; Optimization; Organic Rankine cycle (ORC); Panels; Particle swarm optimization; Particle swarm optimization (PSO); Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic system; Photovoltaics; Rankine cycle; Studies; System reliability
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.10.012

In this work, the optimal design of a hybrid electric power generation system for isolated zones, using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique, is presented. A study is carried out taking as case of study, the city of Cujubim, in the state of Rondônia-Brazil, consisting of photovoltaic panels, a diesel generator, batteries and an organic Rankine Cycle, which is used for the heat recovery of the exhaust gases from the diesel generator sets, what is the novelty of this study. Decision variables, involved in the optimal design problem of the hybrid system, are the number of photovoltaic panels, the number of batteries and the nominal power of the diesel generator. Directly connected to the size of the diesel generator, is the nominal power of ORC system, not being a decision variable. All components are modeled and the objective function is the cost of power generation, with system reliability, results of the simulation show that the hybrid system is profitable to supply electric power demand of a selected city. •Optimization design of a hybrid diesel-ORC/photovoltaic system for isolated zone using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO).•Mathematical modeling of photovoltaic system, diesel generator and battery bank.•Thermodynamic analysis of the ORC for the heat recovery of the internal combustion engine.•Simulation of the optimal hybrid diesel-ORC/photovoltaic system using real load profiles and meteorological data.•Comparative analysis between only diesel system and diesel-ORC system.