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Cost-effective and emission-cutting water heating system based on a novel bi-level expanded P-graph configuration optimization method

  • Research Article
  • Advances in Modeling and Simulation Tools
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Abstract

Domestic hot water (DHW) systems contribute significantly to the building sector’s energy consumption and carbon emissions, making innovative optimization methods crucial for enhancing DHW energy efficiency. Existing DHW system optimizations focus on design parameters and operation modes, but their applicability is limited to specific systems and configurations, overlooking more efficient alternatives. To overcome this problem, combining visualized graphic and algebraic techniques, this study introduces a novel bi-level expanded Process Graph optimization method (BEPGOM) to optimize a DHW system with diverse component-candidates. BEPGOM effectively identifies nontrivial configurations, substantially improving economic and environmental benefits, and enhances solvability with a 98% reduction in solution space. The optimal configuration, consisting of solar heating, PCM tank, and natural gas water heater, reduces the expenditures by 18% and equivalent CO2 emission by 34% compared to the existing base case, greatly exceeding the traditional optimization method. Its adaptability, efficiency, and accessibility make BEPGOM a valuable tool in advancing energy system design and promoting carbon neutrality in the building sector.

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Data availability

Experimental data for this study will be provided upon request.

Abbreviations

a :

cash flow time

adp.GWP:

atmospheric degradation product

ALR:

annual leakage rate

C :

cost

E :

matrix entry

ED:

external data

EF:

emission factor

Em:

CO2 emission

EOL:

end-of-life leakage rate

F :

flowrate

GWP:

global warming potential

IR:

interest rate

LS:

life span

M :

connective matrix

m :

material mass

MM:

equivalent CO2 emission of manufacturing

NR:

normalized ratio

RFD:

CO2 emission of disposing

RM:

equivalent CO2 emission of recycling

RMF:

CO2 emission of manufacturing

t :

time step

T :

temperature

BEPGOM:

bi-level expanded Process Graph optimization method

CNE:

combined NPV-ECE

DHW:

domestic hot water

ECE:

equivalent CO2 emission

HPWH:

heat pump water heater

LCCP:

life cycle climate performance

MINLP:

mixed-integer nonlinear programming

M-type:

material-type

MSG:

maximum structure generation

NG:

natural gas

NGWH:

natural gas water heater

NIST:

National Institute of Standard and Technology

NPV:

net present value

O-type:

operation-type

PCM:

phase change material

SHW:

solar hot water

SSG:

solution structure generation

i :

row

in:

inflow

inv:

investment

j :

column

mfg:

manufacturing

NG:

natural gas

Op:

operating

r:

refrigerant

rcy:

recycling

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (No. 2022NSFSC0277), the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2022A1515011183), and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (No. CityU 11212620, No. CityU 11215621, No. CityU 11218922).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Haosheng Lin & Wei Wu

  2. Chengdu Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Chengdu, China

    Haosheng Lin & Wei Wu

Authors
  1. Haosheng Lin
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  2. Wei Wu
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Contributions

Haosheng Lin: methodology, software, visualization, validation, formal analysis, writing—original draft preparation. Wei Wu: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing—reviewing and editing, funding acquisition, project administration.

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Correspondence to Wei Wu.

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Cost-effective and emission-cutting water heating system based on a novel bi-level expanded P-graph configuration optimization method

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Lin, H., Wu, W. Cost-effective and emission-cutting water heating system based on a novel bi-level expanded P-graph configuration optimization method. Build. Simul. 16, 1519–1537 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-023-1055-8

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