Energy Hub's Structural and Operational Optimization for Minimal Energy Usage Costs in Energy Systems

The structural and optimal operation of an Energy Hub (EH) has a tremendous influence on the hub's performance and reliability. This paper envisions an innovative methodology that prominently increases the synergy between structural and operational optimization and targets system cost affordability. The generalized energy system structure is presented theoretically with all selective hub sub-modules, including electric heater (EHe) and solar sources block sub-modules. To minimize energy usage cost, an energy hub is proposed that consists of 12 kinds of elements (i.e., energy resources, conversion, and storage functions) and is modeled mathematically in a General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS), which indicates the optimal hub structure's corresponding elements with binary variables (0, 1). Simulation results contrast with 144 various scenarios established in all 144 categories of hub structures, in which for each scenario the corresponding optimal operation cost is previously calculated. These case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested model and methodology. Finally, avenues for future research are also prospected.