Exergy-Economic-Environment Optimization of the Waste-to-Energy Power Plant Using Multi-Objective Particle-Swarm Optimization (MOPSO)
Farbod Esmaeilion, Abolfazl Ahmadi, Reza Dashti
Abstract
This paper brings together the benefits of the results of exergy, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental analysis, and optimization for a waste-to-energy (WTE) power plant. Initially, exergoeconomic balances for each stream were calculated. For validating the current simulations, the actual data of the Amsterdam WTE power plant in working conditions were examined. Moreover, the behaviors of the influential parameters on the objective functions were evaluated. In order to perform multi-objective optimization, the Multi-Objective Particle-Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) algorithm is implemented. To obtain optimum operating conditions, 14 design parameters, and 3 objective functions are considered, while the total cost rate, total exergy efficiency of the cycle, and environmental impacts are the objective functions. Finally, the TOPSIS decision-making method determined optimum-operating conditions. The results of exergy analysis indicated that the most exergy destruction belonged to the incinerator unit at 66%. Instead, the pumps contributed the least in this field, (approximately 1%). Because of the optimization process, the total exergy efficiency of the power plant increased from 30.89% to 38.9% while the total cost rate was 5188.05 USD/hour. By comparison between the obtained results from the optimization procedure, introducing optimum working conditions has caused an increase in exergy efficiency and reduced exergy destruction for components.