Interactive Multi-objective Optimisation of Configurations for an Oxyfuel Power Plant Process for CO₂ Capture

Abstract

In this work we present a multi-objective approach to optimising configurations of an oxyfuel power plant process. The approach solves an optimisation model based on simulation results using an interactive multi-objective optimisation method, NIMBUS, which is implemented in GAMS. The optimisation model of the oxyfuel power plant process is based on simulation models of six different configurations. The simulation model is used to generate regression models for each objective, by varying the free variables that are being studied. This is done to reduce the complexity of the optimisation model. The direct results from this study suggest that it is possible to design a coal-fired power plant using an oxyfuel process, with thermal efficiency, amount of liquefied carbon dioxide and heat exchanger areas close to the ideal values. Another important result from this study is that the integration of NIMBUS and GAMS, called GAMS-NIMBUS tool, is a powerful tool to study complex processes.