The method for optimisation of gas compressors performance in gas storage systems

We present a computational method for achieving an optimal operation of compressor units used in industrial gas storage systems. The proposed method is capable to operate with a mix of compressor types (i.e., with different operational parameters, different power drives, and different types of construction, e.g., reciprocal and turbocompressors). The goal of the optimisation is to find an optimal compressors configuration and distribution of the compressor loads for each instance of time. The proposed method is based on conversion of a multidimensional discrete-continuous optimisation problem into a set of independent combinatorial and nonlinear optimisation problems. We derive the mathematical foundations of the algorithms. The exemplary results of the application are presented. [Received: May 4, 2016; Accepted: December 2, 2016]