Energy operation assistance system, information processing device, information output device, energy operation device, energy operation assistance method, and energy operation method

Abstract

This energy operation assistance system comprises an information acquisition unit. Constraint conditions for an optimization calculation include a power interchange amount constraint for which there is used a power interchange direction determination parameter that represents the direction in which electric power is sent and interchanged from one steel mill to another steel mill constituting a plurality of steel mills and is used for adjusting the upper limit of the power interchange amount between the steel mills. The objective function of the optimization calculation is an energy operation cost of the plurality of steel mills, the energy operation cost including a power interchange cost associated with interchange of power between the steel mills. The energy operation assistance system furthermore comprises: an output unit for outputting information calculated by an optimization unit; an output information acquisition unit for acquiring an operation condition for an energy facility of the plurality of steel mills; and an information output unit for outputting the operation condition for the energy facility of the plurality of steel mills.

Description

Energy management support system, information processing device, information output device, energy management device, energy management support method, and energy management method

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy management support system, an information processing device, an information output device, an energy management device, an energy management support method, and an energy management method.

[0002] Generally, a steelworks is composed of numerous plants and power generation facilities from upstream processes (blast furnaces, coke ovens, steelmaking processes, etc.) to downstream processes (rolling processes, surface treatment processes, etc.), and operates using the following energy sources (gas, steam, and electricity): By-product gases such as B-gas (Blast Furnace gas) generated in the blast furnace, C-gas (Coke Oven gas) generated in the coke oven, and LD-gas (LD converter gas) generated in the converter are used in the plants and power generation facilities. In addition, M-gas (Mixed gas), which is a mixture of these by-product gases and has an adjusted calorific value, is also used in the plants and power generation facilities.

[0003] If the gas supply volume falls short of factory demand (for example, the demand for heating furnaces in a rolling mill), city gas is used to meet the factory demand. Furthermore, if the gas supply volume to a power generation facility falls short of the required volume, heavy oil is used to make up for it. These supplemental fuels incur costs depending on the amount used. Meanwhile, if the gas supply volume exceeds factory demand, the gas is detoxified by combustion and then released into the atmosphere. This should be minimized as it leads to energy loss and carbon dioxide emissions. To reduce costs and prevent emissions, it is necessary to utilize gas holders, which are by-product gas storage facilities, and to appropriately adjust the gas distribution volume.

[0004] For example, in a gas holder, when the supply of by-product gas exceeds the demand, the gas holder stores the by-product gas in preference to dissipation, thereby increasing the storage amount (gas holder level) and suppressing dissipation. On the other hand, when the demand for by-product gas exceeds the supply, the gas holder releases the stored gas to meet demand and reduce the amount of supplemental fuel used. Furthermore, when the demand for by-product gas exceeds the supply, the output of the power generation equipment is reduced. Furthermore, if this does not address the issue, the plant's operating level may be reduced.

[0005] Steam is supplied by sources such as LD gas and heat recovery boilers from sintering furnaces, CDQ (Coke Drying Quenching) boilers, and extraction steam from the middle stage of the turbine in power generation equipment (an operation to obtain steam from the middle stage of the turbine; power generation volume is reduced). Steam is also used in factories (for heat retention of pickling tanks in cold rolling factories and for vacuum degassing equipment). Any shortage in steam demand is purchased from outside. Power demand in factories is met by the power generated by CDQ, TRT (Top-pressure Recovery Turbine), power generation equipment, and electricity purchased from power companies.

[0006] The amount of electricity purchased must be managed so as not to exceed the hourly contracted amount (maximum electricity purchase amount). Furthermore, since the electricity purchase price varies depending on the time of day, the operating conditions that minimize costs vary depending on the time of day and the supply and demand situation. For example, if the time of day when the price is high and there is a surplus of by-product gas, the output of the power generation equipment must be set high to reduce the amount of electricity purchased. Against this background, technologies to optimize the energy operating costs of steelworks have been proposed.

[0007] For example, Patent Document 1 uses the following method to determine the optimal energy operation conditions for a steelworks. Specifically, Patent Document 1 uses actual and predicted values ​​of the amount of energy utility generation and consumption for each plant that makes up the steelworks. Using these values, the total energy operation cost of the steelworks within a predetermined time from the current time is used as an evaluation function, and operation conditions for the energy equipment in the steelworks that minimize the value of the evaluation function are calculated.

[0008] Patent No. 7028272

[0009] However, the method proposed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it only calculates the operating conditions of energy facilities by evaluating the energy operating costs of a single steelworks, and does not evaluate the energy operating costs of multiple steelworks. As a result, it is not possible to take into account the power interchange between steelworks, which means that it is not possible to realize optimization of operations taking into account the energy operating costs of multiple steelworks.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an energy management support system, an information processing device, an information output device, an energy management device, an energy management support method, and an energy management method that can realize optimization of operations taking into account power interchange between steelworks.

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an energy operation support system according to the present invention is an energy operation support system for a plurality of steelworks comprising two or more steelworks, comprising an information processing device and an information output device, and comprising an information acquisition unit that acquires information on energy utilities for each of the factories comprising the plurality of steelworks and information on operation plans for energy facilities of the plurality of steelworks, and the constraint conditions for optimization calculation include a constraint on the amount of power interchange using a power interchange direction determination parameter that indicates a direction in which power is transferred from one steelworks comprising the plurality of steelworks to another steelworks and that adjusts an upper limit of the amount of power interchange between the steelworks. The objective function of the optimization calculation is the energy operation cost of the multiple steelworks, including the power interchange cost associated with power interchange between each steelworks, and the optimization system further comprises: an optimization unit that calculates the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, including the amount of power interchange between each steelworks, as a decision variable of the optimization calculation; an output unit that outputs information calculated by the optimization unit, including the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks; an output information acquisition unit that acquires the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, including at least the power interchange direction determination parameter and the amount of power interchange; and an information output unit that outputs the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks.

[0012] In addition, in the energy operation support system of the present invention, in the above invention, the information acquisition unit acquires the wheeling cost by time of day of the transmission lines used to interchange electricity as information regarding the operation plans of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, and the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, which are decision variables for the optimization calculation, include the power interchange direction determination parameters between each steelworks by time of day, which are obtained by evaluating the power interchange cost based on the wheeling cost by time of day.

[0013] In addition, in the energy operation support system of the present invention, in the above invention, the information acquisition unit acquires planned values ​​of the power interchange direction determination parameters between each steelworks as information regarding the operation plans of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks.

[0014] In the energy management support system according to the present invention, in the above invention, the energy utilities include gas, steam, and electricity.

[0015] In addition, in the energy operation support system of the present invention, in the above invention, the energy equipment includes a mixed gas production equipment, a gas holder, a blast furnace top pressure power generation equipment, and a power generation equipment that uses by-product gas, heavy oil, or extracted steam.

[0016] In the energy management support system according to the present invention, in the above invention, the energy management costs include costs associated with the use of heavy oil, city gas, and steam, and costs associated with purchasing electricity.

[0017] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an information processing device according to the present invention is an information processing device constituting an energy operation support system for a plurality of steelworks constituted by two or more steelworks, and includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information on energy utilities for each plant constituting the plurality of steelworks and information on operation plans for energy facilities of the plurality of steelworks, an optimization unit that calculates operation conditions for the energy facilities of the plurality of steelworks as decision variables for optimization calculation, and an optimization unit that outputs information calculated by the optimization unit, including the operation conditions for the energy facilities of the plurality of steelworks. and an output unit that outputs a power interchange amount, wherein the constraint conditions of the optimization calculation include a power interchange amount constraint that indicates the direction in which power is transferred from one steelworks that constitutes the multiple steelworks to another steelworks and that uses a power interchange direction determination parameter for adjusting the upper limit of the power interchange amount between each steelworks, the objective function of the optimization calculation is the energy operation cost of the multiple steelworks, including the power interchange cost associated with the power interchange between each steelworks, and the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, which are the decision variables of the optimization calculation, include the power interchange amount between each steelworks.

[0018] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the information output device of the present invention is an information output device that, together with an information processing device, constitutes an energy operation support system for multiple steelworks consisting of two or more steelworks, and is equipped with an output information acquisition unit that acquires from the information processing device the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, which at least includes a power interchange direction determination parameter that indicates the direction in which electricity is transferred and exchanged from one steelworks that constitutes the multiple steelworks to another steelworks and that is for adjusting the upper limit of the amount of electricity interchange between each steelworks, and the amount of electricity interchange between each steelworks, and an information output unit that outputs the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks.

[0019] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the energy management device of the present invention controls the energy equipment of multiple steelworks in accordance with the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks output from the above-mentioned energy management support system.

[0020] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an energy management support method according to the present invention is an energy management method executed by an energy management support system for a multiple steelworks consisting of two or more steelworks, and includes an information acquisition step in which an information acquisition unit of the energy management support system acquires information on energy utilities for each plant constituting the multiple steelworks and information on an operation plan of energy facilities of the multiple steelworks, an optimization step in which an optimization unit of the energy management support system calculates operation conditions of energy facilities of the multiple steelworks as decision variables for optimization calculation, an output step in which an output unit of the energy management support system outputs information calculated by the optimization unit, the information including the operation conditions of energy facilities of the multiple steelworks, an output information acquisition step by an output information acquisition unit of the energy management support system, and and an information output step by an information output unit of an energy operation support system, wherein the constraint conditions of the optimization calculation include a constraint on the amount of power interchange using a power interchange direction determination parameter that represents the direction in which power is transferred and interchanged from one steelworks constituting the plurality of steelworks to another steelworks and that is for adjusting the upper limit of the amount of power interchange between each steelworks, the objective function of the optimization calculation is the energy operation cost of the plurality of steelworks including the power interchange cost associated with the power interchange between each steelworks, and the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the plurality of steelworks, which are decision variables of the optimization calculation, include the amount of power interchange between each steelworks, the output information acquisition step acquires the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the plurality of steelworks, which include at least the power interchange direction determination parameter and the amount of power interchange, and the information output step outputs the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the plurality of steelworks.

[0021] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the energy management method of the present invention controls the energy equipment of multiple steelworks in accordance with the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks output in the above-mentioned information output step.

[0022] In the energy management support system, information processing device, information output device, energy management device, energy management support method, and energy management method according to the present invention, the optimization calculation process determines the steelworks that will exchange power and the steelworks that will receive power using a power interchange direction determination parameter, thereby optimizing the costs of multiple steelworks while taking into account power interchange between the steelworks. Furthermore, by evaluating based on the wheeling unit price by time of day, the power interchange direction determination parameter between the steelworks can be determined by time of day. Furthermore, by evaluating based on the wheeling unit price by time of day, the operating conditions of the energy facilities, including the amount of power interchange, can be calculated based on the planned value of the power interchange direction determination parameter between the steelworks. As a result, it is possible to realize optimization of the operation of the energy facilities of multiple steelworks while taking into account power interchange between the steelworks.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an energy management support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of an energy management support method executed by the energy management support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the direction of power interchange between steelworks in an optimization calculation in the energy management support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an example of the energy management support system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a graph showing changes in the direction of power interchange and the amount of power interchange when the energy operation costs of the two steelworks are evaluated based on the wheeling unit price by time period to determine the power interchange direction between the steelworks by time period and calculate the amount of power interchange.

[0024] An energy management support system, an information processing device, an information output device, an energy management device, an energy management support method, and an energy management method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

[0025] (Energy Management Support System) An energy management support system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The energy management support system is a system used in a multi-steelworks configuration, for example, consisting of two or more steelworks, and calculates optimal energy management conditions for the multi-steelworks. As shown in Figure 1, the energy management support system 1 has an information processing device 10, an operation plan and performance database 20, and an information output device 30.

[0026] The information processing device 10, the operation plan and performance database 20, and the information output device 30 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network N such as the Internet. In the energy operation support system, the information output device 30 is placed, for example, in a steelworks.

[0027] (Information Processing Device) The information processing device 10 is realized by, for example, a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer, or a server located on a cloud. The information processing device 10 may be configured by multiple computers connected via a network. The information processing device 10 may also be equipped with information input means such as a keyboard, a mouse pointer, or a numeric keypad.

[0028] The information processing device 10 includes a processor (arithmetic processing device) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (main storage unit) such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The processor executes a computer program to control each component, thereby realizing functions that meet a predetermined purpose. Through the execution of the computer program, the information processing device 10 functions as an information acquisition unit 11, an optimization unit 12, and an output unit 13, as shown in FIG. 2 .

[0029] The information processing device 10 may also include a storage unit that stores various processing results, etc. This storage unit may be configured with a recording medium such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a removable medium. Examples of removable media include a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD).

[0030] The information acquisition unit 11 acquires, from the operation plan / performance database 20, information on energy utilities for each plant that constitutes the multiple steelworks and information on operation plans for the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks.

[0031] Here, "information related to energy utilities" includes actual and predicted values ​​of the amount of energy utility generation, actual and predicted values ​​of the amount of energy utility consumption, etc. "Energy utilities" include, for example, gas, steam, and electricity. "Information related to the operation plan of energy facilities" includes, for example, setting values ​​of energy facilities, contract values ​​of trading contracts (unit price setting values ​​necessary for calculating the cost of energy operation of steelworks), planned values ​​of the parameters for determining the direction of power interchange between each steelworks, etc.

[0032] The "contract value of the trading contract" includes the wheeling unit price by time period of the transmission line used when transferring electricity (see Table 2 below). The "energy facilities" include, for example, mixed gas production facilities, gas holders, blast furnace top pressure power generation facilities, and power generation facilities that use by-product gas, heavy oil, or extracted steam. The "trading contract" also includes, for example, purchase contracts for the use of heavy oil, city gas, and steam, purchase contracts for purchasing electricity, CO ２ This includes trading contracts for trading emissions.

[0033] The optimization unit 12 calculates the operating conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks as decision variables for the optimization calculation. The "operating conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks" include at least a parameter for determining the power interchange direction between each steelworks and the amount of power interchange between each steelworks. The "power interchange direction determination parameter" indicates the direction in which power is transferred from one steelworks constituting the multiple steelworks to another steelworks, and is a parameter for adjusting the upper limit of the amount of power interchange between each steelworks. The power interchange direction determination parameter can be calculated for each time period, for example, by evaluating the power interchange cost based on the time period-specific wheeling unit price.

[0034] The optimization unit 12 performs optimization calculations to calculate, for example, the operating conditions of energy equipment within a predetermined time from the current time. The optimization unit 12 calculates the operating conditions of the energy equipment based on an evaluation of the energy operating cost of the steelworks. Furthermore, the optimization unit 12 calculates the operating conditions of the energy equipment in the steelworks so as to reduce the value of an evaluation function (also referred to as an objective function), for example, the energy operating cost of the steelworks within a predetermined time from the current time. Furthermore, the evaluation function (objective function) includes the power interchange cost associated with the power interchange between the steelworks. Furthermore, the constraint conditions of the optimization calculations performed by the optimization unit 12 include constraints on the amount of power interchange using a power interchange direction determination parameter (see Equations (18) to (21) described below).

[0035] Furthermore, the optimization unit 12 calculates the energy operation cost based on the evaluation of the energy operation cost (i.e., using the energy operation cost as an evaluation function), as will be described later. Here, the "energy operation cost" includes, for example, the costs associated with the use of heavy oil, city gas, and steam, the costs associated with purchasing electricity, and the costs associated with the transportation of electricity.

[0036] The output unit 13 transmits various types of information to other terminal devices and other information processing devices via the network N. Examples of information transmitted by the output unit 13 include information calculated by the optimization unit 12, including the operating conditions of energy facilities at multiple steelworks.

[0037] Furthermore, the other information processing devices to which the output unit 13 transmits various information may include a control computer for each energy facility. This control computer may control each energy facility according to the transmitted operating conditions of the energy facility. The control computer may also control each energy facility by accepting modifications by an operator. Here, examples of control of the energy facility include increasing the output of a power generation facility to perform power interchange, and discharging stored gas from a gas holder to increase the output of the power generation facility.

[0038] The output unit 13 may also display the various pieces of information through a display device (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a touch panel display, etc.) not shown connected to the information processing device 10. The output unit 13 may also display a tuning screen or the like when various calculations are performed in the optimization unit 12. The output unit 13 may also be configured as a display device and may display the various pieces of information, the tuning screen, etc.

[0039] (Operation Plan and Performance Database) The operation plan and performance database 20 is stored in a storage device that is configured from a recording medium such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a removable medium.

[0040] The operation plan / performance database 20 stores information relating to the steelworks' operation plan (hereinafter referred to as "operation plan information") and information relating to the operation performance (hereinafter referred to as "operation performance information"). The operation plan information and the operation performance information are accumulated, for example, by an operation planning device and an operation performance device (not shown), and then aggregated by an aggregation device (not shown) and stored in the operation plan / performance database 20. The operation plan / performance database 20 may also be configured by a database server provided on the network N.

[0041] (Information Output Device) The information output device 30 is for acquiring and outputting various information from the information processing device 10. This information output device 30 is realized, for example, by a personal computer connected to the information processing device 10 via a network N. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , the information output device 30 includes an output information acquisition unit 31 and an information output unit 32.

[0042] The output information acquisition unit 31 acquires, for example, from the information processing device 10, the operating conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks calculated by the optimization unit 12 based on the evaluation of the energy operating costs of the steelworks. The operating conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks acquired by the output information acquisition unit 31 from the information processing device 10 include at least a power interchange direction determination parameter and a power interchange amount.

[0043] The information output unit 32 outputs energy operation information of the steelworks, including operating conditions of energy facilities including at least the power interchange direction determination parameters and power interchange amounts between the steelworks, and energy operation costs, to, for example, an information processing device (not shown) connected to the information output device 30. Furthermore, the information output unit 32 may display the above-mentioned energy operation information of the steelworks on a display device (not shown) connected to the information output device 30.

[0044] Furthermore, the information output device 30 may be configured as a display device and may display energy operation information acquired from the information processing device 10 via the network N. The method of displaying the power interchange direction determination parameter and the power interchange amount is not particularly limited, and as in an example described later (see FIG. 6 ), the direction of power interchange between the steelworks and the power interchange amount may be displayed using a graph or color, or may be displayed using text, etc.

[0045] 1 to 3 are merely examples. The information processing device 10 and the information output device 30 may not include all of the components shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 and the information output device 30 may include components other than those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. Furthermore, the components included in the information processing device 10 and the information output device 30 are not limited to the examples in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

[0046] For example, the optimization unit 12 and the information output unit 32 may be in the same device. Furthermore, for example, some of the components included in the information processing device 10 in FIG. 2 may be provided on the information output device 30 side. Furthermore, for example, some of the components included in the information output device 30 in FIG. 3 may be provided on the information processing device 10 side. Therefore, an energy management support system including the information processing device 10 and the information output device 30 may be configured as a whole to include the information acquisition unit 11, the optimization unit 12, the output unit 13, the output information acquisition unit 31, and the information output unit 32.

[0047] (Energy Management Device) The energy management device according to the embodiment controls the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks in accordance with the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks output from the output unit 13 or the information output device 30 of the energy management support system 1. The operation conditions of the energy equipment output from the information output device 30 include the operation conditions of the energy equipment, including at least the power interchange direction determination parameters and the power interchange amount between each steelworks, and the energy operation cost. The energy management device is realized, for example, by a control computer for each energy equipment. Examples of control of the energy equipment include increasing the output of the power generation equipment to perform power interchange, and discharging stored gas from a gas holder to increase the output of the power generation equipment.

[0048] (Method for Operating a Steelworks) In the method for operating a steelworks according to the embodiment, operations are performed while changing operational conditions, such as power interchange between steelworks, based on the operational conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks output from the information output device 30. The operational conditions of the energy facilities output from the information output device 30 include the operational conditions of the energy facilities, including at least the power interchange direction determination parameters and the power interchange amount between each steelworks, and the energy operation cost. The operational conditions may be changed by a computer that manages the operation of the steelworks, or may be changed manually by an operator. Examples of the change in operational conditions include increasing the output of the power generation facility to perform power interchange, or discharging stored gas from a gas holder to increase the output of the power generation facility.

[0049] (Energy Management Method) In the energy management method according to the embodiment, energy equipment at multiple steelworks is controlled in accordance with the operation conditions of the energy equipment at the multiple steelworks output from the information output device 30. The operation conditions of the energy equipment at the multiple steelworks include the operation conditions of the energy equipment, including at least a parameter for determining the direction of power interchange and the amount of power interchange between each steelworks, and the energy operation cost. Furthermore, the energy equipment may be controlled by a computer that controls the energy equipment at the steelworks, or may be controlled manually by an operator.

[0050] (Energy management support method) An energy management support method executed by the energy management support system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the energy management support method includes an information acquisition step (steps S1 to S4), a cost optimization step (step S5), and an output step (step S6).

[0051] 4 starts when an instruction to execute the optimization calculation process is input to the information processing device 10, and the optimization calculation process proceeds to step S1. Steps S1 to S4 for acquiring various pieces of information may be performed in an order different from that shown in FIG. 4, or may be performed at the same time.

[0052] <Step S1> In the processing of step S1, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires data on the setting values ​​of the energy equipment in the steelworks (information on the operation plan of the energy equipment) as input data for the optimization calculation processing. Specifically, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires the following data as shown in Table 1 below. In Table 1 below, "x" is the number of generators (identification number). Also, "m" is the name (identification symbol) of the steelworks (steelworks A, steelworks B). This completes the processing of step S1, and the optimization calculation processing proceeds to the processing of step S2.

[0053] Power generation upper limit (x=1U to NU) (m=A, B) UB POW　X　m Power generation lower limit (x=1U to NU) (m=A, B) LB POW　X　m Power generation change upper limit (x=1U to NU) (m=A, B) UBPOWDIF　X　m Power generation change amount lower limit (x=1U to NU) (m=A, B) LB POWDIF　X　m B gas holder upper limit (storage capacity) (m = A, B) UB B　LEVEL　m B gas holder lower limit (storage capacity) (m = A, B) LB B　LEVEL　m B gas holder upper limit (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) UB B　INOUT　m B gas holder lower limit (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) LB B　INOUT　m C Gas holder upper limit (storage capacity) (m = A, B) UB C　LEVEL　m C Gas holder lower limit (storage capacity) (m = A, B) LB C　LEVEL　m C Gas holder upper limit (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) UB C　INOUT　m C Gas holder lower limit (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) LB C　INOUT　m LD gas holder upper limit (storage capacity) (m = A, B) UB LD　LEVEL　m LD gas holder lower limit (storage capacity) (m = A, B) LB LD　LEVEL　m LD gas holder upper limit (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) UB LD　INOUT　m LD gas holder lower limit (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) LB LD　INOUT　m Upper limit of power interchange (Steelworks A → Steelworks B) UB A→B　ELE　Interchange Power interchange upper limit (Steelworks B → Steelworks A) UB B→A　ELE　Interchange

[0054]

[0055] <Step S2> In the processing of step S2, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires, as input data for the optimization calculation processing, the contract values ​​of the trading contract (information on the operation plan of the energy facilities) required to calculate the costs of energy operation at the steelworks, including electricity, steam, heavy oil, city gas, and the wheeling unit prices for power interchange between steelworks. Specifically, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires the following data, as shown in Table 2 below. Note that in Table 2 below, "k = 0" indicates the present, and "k = 1 to N" indicate the future. Furthermore, "N" is the final period of the optimization calculation, and indicates two hours into the future, for example, when N = 24 and one period = 5 minutes. This completes the processing of step S2, and the optimization calculation processing proceeds to the processing of step S3.

[0056] Electricity purchase price (m = A, B) P ELE　m (k) Steam purchase price (m = A, B) P ST　m (k) Heavy oil purchase price (m = A, B) P OIL　m (k) City gas purchase price (m = A, B) P TOG　m (k) Wheeling cost (Steelworks A → Steelworks B) P A→B (k) Wheeling cost (Steelworks B → Steelworks A) P B→A (k)

[0057]

[0058] <Step S3> In the processing of step S3, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires data on the actual values ​​of energy utilities (information on energy utilities) of factories in the steelworks at the current time (k = 0) as input data for the optimization calculation processing. Specifically, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires the following data as data on the actual values ​​of energy utilities at the current time (k = 0), as shown in Table 3 below (second column).

[0059] B gas generation amount (blast furnace total) (m = A, B) S B　m (0) C gas generation amount (total of coke ovens) (m = A, B) S C　m (0) LD gas generation amount (total of converters) (m = A, B) S LD　m (0) Steam generation (factory total) (m = A, B) S ST　m (0) TRT power generation (all units) (m = A, B) S TRTELE　m (0) B gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D B　m (0) C gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D C　m (0) LD gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D LD　m (0) M gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D M　PLANT　m (0) Steam consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D ST　m (0) Electricity consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D ELE　m (0)

[0060]

[0061] Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires the following data as data on the actual values ​​of energy utilities at the current time (k=0), as shown in the following Table 4 (second column) and Table 5 (second column). This completes the processing of step S3, and the optimization calculation processing proceeds to the processing of step S4.

[0062] B gas usage (x=1U to NU) (m=A, B) D B X　m (0) C gas consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D C X　m (0) LD gas consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D LD X　m (0) M gas consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D M X　m (0) Heavy oil consumption (x=1U~NU) (m=A,B)D OIL X　m (0) Bleed air amount (x = 1U ~ NU) (m = A, B) S ST X　m (0) B Gas Holder (storage capacity) (m = A, B) H B　LEVEL　m (0) B gas holder (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) H B INOUT　m (0) C Gas Holder (storage capacity) (m = A, B) H C　LEVEL　m (0) C gas holder (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) H C INOUT　m (0) LD gas holder (storage capacity) (m = A, B) H LD　LEVEL　m (0) LD gas holder (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) H LD INOUT　m (0) Power purchase amount (m = A, B) S ELE　Purchase　m (0) Steam purchase amount (m = A, B) S ST　Purchase　m (0) M gas (B gas) for power generation facilities (m = A, B) D B　POW　m (0) M gas (C gas) for power generation facilities (m = A, B) D C　POW　m (0) M gas (LD gas) for power generation equipment (m = A, B) D LD　POW　m (0) M gas (city gas) for power generation facilities (m = A, B) D TOG　POW　m (0) Factory Gas M (Gas B) (m = A, B) D B　Mill　m ​​​​​​​​​(0) Factory M Gas (C Gas) (m = A, B) D C　Mill　m (0) Industrial M Gas (LD Gas) (m = A, B) D LD　Mill　m (0) Industrial M Gas (City Gas) (m = A, B) D TOG　Mill　m (0) Steel mill m cost (m = A, B) total_cost 　m (0) Power interchange cost Interchange_cost(0) Power interchange amount (Steelworks A → Steelworks B) S A→B　ELE　Interchange (0) Amount of electricity interchange (Steelworks B → Steelworks A) S A→B　ELE　Interchange (0) Power exchange direction determination parameter Z(0)

[0063]

[0064] <Step S4> In the processing of step S4, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires data on predicted values ​​(information on energy utilities) of energy utilities of factories in the steelworks in the future (k = 1 to N) as input data for the optimization calculation processing. Specifically, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires the following data as data on predicted values ​​of energy utilities in the future (k = 1 to N), as shown in Table 3 above (third column). This completes the processing of step S4, and the optimization calculation processing proceeds to the processing of step S5.

[0065] B gas generation amount (blast furnace total) (m = A, B) S B　m (k) C gas generation volume (total of coke ovens) (m = A, B) S C　m (k) LD gas generation amount (total of converters) (m = A, B) S LD　m (k) Steam generation (factory total) (m = A, B) S ST　m (k) TRT power generation (all units) (m = A, B) S TRTELE　m (k) B gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D B　m (k) C gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D C　m (k) LD gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D LD　m (k) M gas consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D M　PLANT　m (k) Steam consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D ST　m (k) Electricity consumption (factory total) (m = A, B) D ELE　m(k)

[0066] <Step S5> In the processing of step S5, the optimization unit 12 uses the data acquired in the processing of steps S1 to S4 to perform optimization calculations to determine the operating conditions of energy equipment, including the amount of power interchange between steelworks, that minimize the energy operating costs associated with the energy operation of the steelworks within a specified future period (k = 1 to N).

[0067] The decision variables (variables searched to minimize the cost) in the optimization calculation in step S5 are as follows, as shown in Table 4 (third column) and Table 5 (third column) above.

[0068] B gas usage (x=1U to NU) (m=A, B) D B X　m (k) C gas consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D C X　m (k) LD gas consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D LD X　m (k) M gas consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D M X　m (k) Heavy oil consumption (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) D OIL X　m (k) Bleed air amount (x = 1U to NU) (m = A, B) S ST X　m (k) B Gas Holder (storage capacity) (m = A, B) H B　LEVEL　m (k) B gas holder (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) H B INOUT　m (k) C Gas Holder (storage capacity) (m = A, B) H C　LEVEL　m (k) C gas holder (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) H C INOUT　m (k) LD gas holder (storage capacity) (m = A, B) H LD　LEVEL　m (k) LD gas holder (intake amount / discharge amount) (m = A, B) H LD INOUT　m (k) Amount of electricity purchased (m=A, B) S ELE　Purchase　m (k) Steam purchase amount (m = A, B) S ST　Purchase　m (k) M gas (B gas (m = A, B)) for power generation facilities D​​​​​​​​​B　POW　m (k) M gas (C gas) for power generation facilities (m = A, B) D C　POW　m (k) M gas (LD gas) for power generation facilities (m = A, B) D LD　POW　m (k) M gas (city gas) for power generation facilities (m = A, B) D TOG　POW　m (k) Factory Gas M (Gas B) (m = A, B) D B　Mill　m (k) Industrial Gas M (C Gas) (m = A, B) D C　Mill　m (k) Industrial M Gas (LD Gas) (m = A, B) D LD　Mill　m (k) M gas for factories (city gas) (m = A, B) D TOG　Mill　m (k) Steel mill m cost (m = A, B) total_cost 　m (k) Power interchange cost Interchange_cost(k) Power interchange amount (Steelworks A → Steelworks B) S A→B　ELE　Interchange　 (k) Amount of electricity interchange (Steelworks B → Steelworks A) S A→B　ELE　Interchange　 (k) Power exchange direction determination parameter Z(k)

[0069] In step S5, constraints such as those shown in the following formulas (1) to (16) are set during optimization calculations. Note that "T" in the following formulas (6) and (12) is the time equivalent of one period. For example, if one period is equal to 5 minutes, then T = 5 / 60 (h).

[0070] Furthermore, the following formula (1) represents the B gas balance, the following formula (2) represents the C gas balance, the following formula (3) represents the LD gas balance, the following formula (4) represents the M gas balance of the factory, and the following formula (5) represents the M gas balance of the power generation facility. Furthermore, the following formula (6) represents the balance between the storage amounts of B gas, C gas, and LD gas in each gas holder and the intake and discharge amounts. The following formula (7) represents the power generation model, the following formula (8) represents the power balance of steelworks A, the following formula (9) represents the power balance of steelworks B, and the following formula (10) represents the steam balance. Furthermore, the following formula (11) represents the relationship between the power generation lower limit, the power generation model, and the power generation upper limit. The following formula (12) represents the relationship between the power generation change lower limit, the power generation model, and the power generation change upper limit. Furthermore, the following formula (13) is a formula showing the range (lower limit, upper limit) of the storage amount of each gas holder for B gas, C gas, and LD gas, the following formula (14) is a formula showing the range (lower limit, upper limit) of the intake and discharge amounts of each gas holder, the following formula (15) is a formula showing the energy operation cost (steelworks m cost) other than the power interchange cost of steelworks m, and the following formula (16) is a formula showing the power interchange cost.

[0071]

[0072] The energy operation cost to be minimized in step S5 is the sum of the steelworks m cost (m = A, B) and the power interchange cost, and this is used to calculate the total cost for a predetermined future period (from one cycle ahead to N cycles ahead) as shown in the following formula (17). The steelworks m cost is the sum of the supplementary fuels of steelworks m, heavy oil (OIL), city gas (TOG), steam (ST), and purchased electricity (ELE), as shown in the above formula (15), and the respective purchase prices are as shown in Table 2 above. Furthermore, the power interchange cost is the sum of the amount of power interchanged between steelworks, and the respective wheeling prices are as shown in Table 2 above.

[0073]

[0074] In step S5, during optimization calculation, constraint conditions are set that can adjust the upper limit of the amount of power interchange between the steelworks using a parameter Z(k)∈{0, 1} for determining the direction of power interchange between the steelworks, as shown in the following formulas (18) to (21). Note that "M" in the following formulas (18) and (19) is a large value, for example, M=10 ５ Furthermore, the power interchange direction determination parameter Z(k) determines the power interchange direction between steelworks A and B using the following equations (18) and (19), as shown in Table 6 and FIG. 5 below. "k" in Table 6 and FIG. 5 below is the number of steps, and the power interchange direction is determined depending on whether Z(k) is 0 or 1. For example, when Z(k) = 1, the upper limit of the power interchange amount from steelworks A to B is 10. ５ The upper limit of the amount of power interchange from steelworks B to A is set to 0, and the direction of power interchange is determined as (steelworks A to B: possible, B to A: not possible). Note that power interchange is assumed to be in one direction only.

[0075]

[0076]

[0077] Furthermore, in step S5, if a planned value (set value) of the parameter Z(k) for determining the power interchange direction between the steelworks is given in advance, constraints related to the parameter Z(k) for determining the power interchange direction are set during the optimization calculation, as shown in the following equations (22) and (23). On the other hand, if a planned value of the parameter Z(k) for determining the power interchange direction between the steelworks is not given in advance or for a time period in which power interchange is not set, the parameter Z(k) for determining the power interchange direction is calculated by the optimization calculation. This completes the processing of step S5, and the optimization calculation processing proceeds to the processing of step S6.

[0078]

[0079] In step S6, the processing of step S6 is completed by outputting the operating conditions of the energy facilities of multiple steelworks, including at least the power interchange direction determination parameter Z(k) for a predetermined future period (k = 1 to N) obtained by the optimization calculation and the amount of power interchange.

[0080] In the energy management support system, information processing device, information output device, energy management support method, and steelworks operation method according to the above-described embodiments, the optimization calculation process determines which steelworks will share power and which steelworks will receive power from the power interchange direction parameters, thereby optimizing the costs of multiple steelworks while taking into account power interchange between the steelworks. Furthermore, by evaluating the parameters based on time-of-day wheeling unit prices, the parameters for determining the power interchange direction between the steelworks can be determined for each time period. Furthermore, by evaluating the parameters based on time-of-day wheeling unit prices, the operating conditions of energy facilities, including the amount of power interchange, can be calculated based on the planned values ​​of the parameters for determining the power interchange direction between the steelworks. As a result, the operation of each energy facility at multiple steelworks can be optimized while taking into account power interchange between the steelworks. Furthermore, even when the amount of power purchased from the electric power company is limited during periods of increased power demand, power can be met through power interchange between the steelworks, thereby reducing the frequency of reducing the operating level of each steelworks due to power shortages. Furthermore, the frequency of shutdowns of steelworks production lines can be reduced, and adverse effects on the quality of steel products caused by shutdowns of continuous process lines that require temperature control (for example, continuous annealing equipment) can be prevented.

[0081] An example of the energy management support method according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In this example, one cycle is set to 5 minutes, optimization calculations are performed for up to 24 cycles ahead, and the calculation results are output by an information output device.

[0082] FIG. 6 shows the trends in the direction of power interchange (A → B when Z(k) = 1, B → A when Z(k) = 0) and the amount of power interchange (A → B) between two steelworks (steelworks A and B). In this example, the energy operating costs of the two steelworks were evaluated based on the wheeling unit price by time period, and the parameters for determining the direction of power interchange between the steelworks were determined by time period, and the amount of power interchange was calculated. As shown in FIG. 6 , the period from 1 to 11 cycles ahead is daytime (high unit price time period), and the period from 12 to 24 cycles ahead is nighttime (low unit price time period). Since the wheeling unit price is about 20% cheaper at night than during the day, it can be seen that the amount of power interchange (A → B) at night is larger than that during the day.

[0083] In this way, the energy management support method according to the present invention can provide guidance on the direction and amount of power interchange based on the wheeling cost for each time period, thereby promoting energy management that minimizes costs across multiple steelworks while utilizing power interchange.

[0084] The energy management support system, information processing device, information output device, energy management device, energy management support method, and energy management method according to the present invention have been specifically described above using the detailed description and examples for carrying out the invention, but the spirit of the present invention is not limited to these descriptions and should be broadly interpreted based on the claims. Furthermore, it goes without saying that various changes and modifications based on these descriptions are also included in the spirit of the present invention.

[0085] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Energy operation support system 10 Information processing device 11 Information acquisition unit 12 Optimization unit 13 Output unit 20 Operation plan / performance database 30 Information output device 31 Output information acquisition unit 32 Information output unit N Network

Claims

1. An energy operation support system for a multiple steelworks comprising two or more steelworks, comprising an information processing device and an information output device, and comprising an information acquisition unit that acquires information on energy utilities for each of the factories comprising the multiple steelworks and information on operation plans for energy facilities at the multiple steelworks, wherein the constraints for the optimization calculation include a constraint on the amount of power interchange using a power interchange direction determination parameter that indicates the direction in which power is transferred from one steelworks comprising the multiple steelworks to another steelworks and that adjusts the upper limit of the amount of power interchange between the steelworks, and the objective function of the optimization calculation is the energy operation cost of the multiple steelworks, including the power interchange cost associated with the power interchange between the steelworks, and an optimization unit that calculates the operation conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks, including the amount of power interchange between the steelworks, as a decision variable for the optimization calculation, and an output unit that outputs information calculated by the optimization unit, including the operation conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks. an output information acquisition unit that acquires operating conditions of the energy facilities of the plurality of steelworks, including at least the power interchange direction determination parameter and the power interchange amount; and an information output unit that outputs the operating conditions of the energy facilities of the plurality of steelworks.

2. The energy operation support system described in claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the wheeling cost by time of day of the transmission lines used to exchange electricity as information regarding the operation plans of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks, and the operating conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks, which are decision variables for the optimization calculation, include the power exchange direction determination parameters between each steelworks by time of day, which are evaluated based on the power exchange cost by time of day of the wheeling cost.

3. The energy operation support system of claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires planned values ​​of the power interchange direction determination parameters between each steelworks as information regarding the operation plans of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks.

4. An energy operation support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the energy utilities include gas, steam and electricity.

5. An energy operation support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the energy facilities include mixed gas production facilities, gas holders, blast furnace top pressure power generation facilities, and power generation facilities that use by-product gases, heavy oil, or extracted steam.

6. An energy operation support system as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the energy operation costs include costs associated with the use of heavy oil, city gas, and steam, and costs associated with purchasing electricity.

7. An information processing device constituting an energy operation support system for a multiple steelworks consisting of two or more steelworks, comprising: an information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding energy utilities for each plant constituting the multiple steelworks and information regarding operation plans for energy equipment at the multiple steelworks; an optimization unit that calculates the operation conditions for the energy equipment at the multiple steelworks as decision variables for optimization calculations; and an output unit that outputs information calculated by the optimization unit, including the operation conditions for the energy equipment at the multiple steelworks, wherein the constraint conditions for the optimization calculations include a constraint on the amount of power interchange using a power interchange direction determination parameter that indicates the direction in which power is transferred and interchanged from one steelworks constituting the multiple steelworks to another steelworks and is used to adjust the upper limit of the amount of power interchange between each steelworks, the objective function of the optimization calculations is the energy operation cost of the multiple steelworks, including the power interchange cost associated with the power interchange between each steelworks, and the operation conditions for the energy equipment at the multiple steelworks, which are decision variables for the optimization calculations, include the amount of power interchange between each steelworks.

8. An information output device that, together with an information processing device, constitutes an energy operation support system for a multiple steelworks consisting of two or more steelworks, comprising: an output information acquisition unit that acquires from the information processing device the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, which at least includes a power interchange direction determination parameter that indicates the direction in which electricity is transferred from one steelworks that constitutes the multiple steelworks to another steelworks and that is for adjusting the upper limit of the amount of electricity interchange between each steelworks, and the amount of electricity interchange between each steelworks; and an information output unit that outputs the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks.

9. An energy management device that controls the energy equipment of multiple steelworks in accordance with the operating conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks output from the energy management support system described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. An energy management method executed by an energy management support system for multiple steelworks consisting of two or more steelworks, comprising: an information acquisition step in which an information acquisition unit of the energy management support system acquires information regarding energy utilities for each of the factories constituting the multiple steelworks and information regarding operation plans for energy facilities at the multiple steelworks; an optimization step in which an optimization unit of the energy management support system calculates operation conditions for energy facilities at the multiple steelworks as decision variables for optimization calculations; an output step in which an output unit of the energy management support system outputs information calculated by the optimization unit, including operation conditions for energy facilities at the multiple steelworks; an output information acquisition step by an output information acquisition unit of the energy management support system; and an information output step by an information output unit of the energy management support system, wherein the constraint conditions for the optimization calculations include constraints on the amount of power interchange using a power interchange direction determination parameter that indicates the direction in which power is transferred and interchanged from one steelworks constituting the multiple steelworks to another steelworks, and that is used to adjust the upper limit of the amount of power interchange between each steelworks, an objective function of the optimization calculation is the energy operation cost of the multiple steelworks, including the power interchange cost associated with power interchange between each steelworks; the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, which are decision variables of the optimization calculation, include the amount of power interchange between each steelworks; the output information acquisition step acquires the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks, including at least the power interchange direction determination parameter and the amount of power interchange; and the information output step outputs the operation conditions of the energy equipment of the multiple steelworks.

11. An energy management method for controlling energy facilities of multiple steelworks in accordance with the operating conditions of the energy facilities of the multiple steelworks output in the information output step of the energy management support method described in claim 10.

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