Browsing by Author "Agrali, Semra"

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Citation - WoS: 1
Nonlinear Benefit-Cost Optimization-Based Selection of Insulation Material and Window Type: a Case Study in Turkey
(Amer Inst Physics, 2017) Uctug, Fehmi Gorkem; Agrali, Semra
In this study, we maximize the energy savings of a hypothetical household by choosing an optimal insulation material with its optimal thickness and also the optimal window type. We develop a nonlinear mixed integer optimization model that maximizes the net present value of the benefits obtained by insulation over the lifespan of the house. Savings are calculated based on the gains from the electricity usage for air conditioning during cooling-required days and the fuel usage for heaters in heating-required days. The heat transfer calculations consider conductive, convective, and radiative components simultaneously. The optimization model takes the climate conditions of the region where the house is located, the consumer's desired indoor temperature, and the properties of the insulation options; then, it returns a combination of selected insulation materials with its optimum thickness and window type as output. We applied the optimization model developed to hypothetical houses in four different climatic regions of Turkey for different lifespans. For all reasonable lifespans, the model choses stonewool as the ideal insulation material. For high interest rates, single windows or double-glazed windows are preferable, but as the interest rate decreases and the net present value of the energy-savings increases, the model prefers triple-glazed windows as the ideal material. Erzurum, a city in climatic region 4, characterized by very cold winters and cool summers, was found to require the highest optimum insulation thickness, and the economic return resulting from the above-mentioned energy-saving actions was also found to be the highest in the case of Erzurum. In all the regions, the energy-saving investments were found to be feasible via applying the feasibility assessment techniques of net present value and payback period. The model developed in this study is applicable to any household as long as the required input data are available. Published by AIP Publishing.
Citation - WoS: 48
Citation - Scopus: 56
An Optimization Model for Carbon Capture & Storage/Utilization Vs. Carbon Trading: a Case Study of Fossil-Fired Power Plants in Turkey
(Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd, 2018) Agrali, Semra; Uctug, Fehmi Gorkem; Turkmen, Burcin Atilgan
We consider fossil-fired power plants that operate in an environment where a cap and trade system is in operation. These plants need to choose between carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilization (CCU), or carbon trading in order to obey emissions limits enforced by the government. We develop a mixed-integer programming model that decides on the capacities of carbon capture units, if it is optimal to install them, the transportation network that needs to be built for transporting the carbon captured, and the locations of storage sites, if they are decided to be built. Main restrictions on the system are the minimum and maximum capacities of the different parts of the pipeline network, the amount of carbon that can be sold to companies for utilization, and the capacities on the storage sites. Under these restrictions, the model aims to minimize the net present value of the sum of the costs associated with installation and operation of the carbon capture unit and the transportation of carbon, the storage cost in case of CCS, the cost (or revenue) that results from the emissions trading system, and finally the negative revenue of selling the carbon to other entities for utilization. We implement the model on General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) by using data associated with two coal-fired power plants located in different regions of Turkey. We choose enhanced oil recovery (EOR) as the process in which carbon would be utilized. The results show that CCU is preferable to CCS as long as there is sufficient demand in the EOR market. The distance between the location of emission and location of utilization/storage, and the capacity limits on the pipes are an important factor in deciding between carbon capture and carbon trading. At carbon prices over $15/ton, carbon capture becomes preferable to carbon trading. These results show that as far as Turkey is concerned, CCU should be prioritized as a means of reducing nationwide carbon emissions in an environmentally and economically rewarding manner. The model developed in this study is generic, and it can be applied to any industry at any location, as long as the required inputs are available. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.