• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.315-320
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• 2009

Thermoeconomics or exergoeconomics can be classified into the three fields of cost estimating, cost optimization, and internal cost analysis. The objective of cost estimating is to estimate each unit cost of product and allocate each cost flow of product such as electricity or hot water. The objective of optimization is to minimize the input costs of capital and energy resource or maximize the output costs of products under the given constraints. The objective of internal cost analysis is to find out the cost formation process and calculate the amount of cost flow at each state, each component, and overall system. In this study, a new thermoeconomic methodology was proposed in the three fields. The proposed methodology is very simple and obvious. That is, the equation is only each one, and there are no auxiliary equations. Any energy including enthalpy and exergy can be applied and evaluated by this equation. As a new field, the cost allocation methodology on cool air or hot air produced from an air-condition system was proposed. Extending this concept, the proposed methodology can be applied to any complex system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.337-348
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• 2023

The optimization of reinforced concrete (RC) cantilever retaining walls is a complex problem and requires the use of advanced techniques like metaheuristic algorithms. For this purpose, an optimization model must first be developed, which involves mathematical complications, multidisciplinary knowledge, and programming skills. This task has proven to be too arduous and has halted the mainstream acceptance of optimization. Therefore, it is necessary to unravel the complications of optimization into an easily applicable form. Currently, the most commonly used method for designing retaining walls is by following the proportioning limits provided by the ACI handbook. However, these limits, derived manually, are not verified by any optimization technique. There is a need to validate or modify these limits, using optimization algorithms to consider them as optimal limits. Therefore, this study aims to propose updated proportioning limits for the economical design of a RC cantilever retaining wall through a comprehensive parametric investigation using the genetic algorithm (GA). Multiple simulations are run to examine various design parameters, and trends are drawn to determine effective ranges. The optimal limits are derived for 5 geometric and 3 reinforcement variables and validated by comparison with their predecessor, ACI's preliminary proportioning limits. The results indicate close proximity between the optimized and code-provided ranges; however, the use of optimal limits can lead to additional cost optimization. Modifications to achieve further optimization are also discussed. Besides the geometric variables, other design parameters not covered by the ACI building code, like reinforcement ratios, bar diameters, and material strengths, and their effects on cost optimization, are also discussed. The findings of this investigation can be used by experienced engineers to refine their designs, without delving into the complexities of optimization.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.468-476
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• 2008

This paper presents a novel approach to economic dispatch (ED) with nonconvex fuel cost function as combinatorial optimization problems (COP) while most of the conventional researches have been developed as function optimization problems (FOP). One nonconvex fuel cost function can be divided into several convex fuel cost functions, and each convex function can be regarded as a generation type (G-type). In that case, ED with nonconvex fuel cost function can be considered as COP finding the best case among all feasible combinations of G-types. In this paper, a genetic algorithm is applied to solve the COP, and the $\lambda$-P table method is used to calculate ED for the fitness function of GA. The $\lambda$-P table method is reviewed briefly and the GA procedure for COP is explained in detail. This paper deals with three kinds of ED problems, namely ED considering valve-point effects (EDVP), ED with multiple fuel units (EDMF), and ED with prohibited operating zones (EDPOZ). The proposed method is tested for all three ED problems, and the test results show an improvement in solution cost compared to the results obtained from conventional algorithms.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.644-654
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• 2024

After the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (Japan, 2011), regulatory efforts to mitigate external hazards have increased both the safety requirements and the total capital cost of nuclear power plants (NPPs). In these circumstances, identifying not only disaster robustness but also cost-effective capacity setting of NPPs has become one of the most important tasks for the nuclear power industry. A few studies have been performed to relocate the seismic capacity of NPPs, yet the effects of multiple hazards have not been accounted for in NPP capacity optimization. The major challenges in extending this problem to the multihazard dimension are (1) the high computational costs for both multihazard risk quantification and system-level optimization and (2) the lack of capital cost databases of NPPs. To resolve these issues, this paper proposes an effective method that identifies the optimal multihazard capacity of NPPs using a multi-objective genetic algorithm and the two-stage direct quantification of fault trees using Monte Carlo simulation method, called the two-stage DQFM. Also, a capacity-based indirect capital cost measure is proposed. Such a proposed method enables NPP to achieve safety and cost-effectiveness against multi-hazard simultaneously within the computationally efficient platform. The proposed multihazard capacity optimization framework is demonstrated and tested with an earthquake-tsunami example.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1261-1267
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• 2014

It is generally recognize that the weight of energy cost for railroad alignment in the life cycle cost is higher than that for roadway. This study analyzed the relative weights of railroad road-bed construction cost and energy cost in the case of Seoul-Pusan High Speed Rail. Recently, the optimization of railroad alignment with computerized methodology has been studies. The optimization is supposed to aim the minimization of life cycle cost including the energy cost as well as the minimization of the construction cost. The operation period of the Seoul-Pusan High Speed Rail is limited to ten years, then various future operation scenario were developed for the next 20 years. The weight of energy cost is estimated 10~30% of the construction cost by scenario, and it is lower than the figure generally expected. It may be meaningful to provide the method to include the energy cost in the railroad alignment optimization.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1561-1570
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• 1997

This study explores the treatment of the max-value cost function over a parameter interval in parametric optimization. To avoid the computational burden of the transformation treatment using an artificial variable, a direct treatment of the original max-value cost function is proposed. It is theoretically shown that the transformation treatment results in demanding an additional equality constraint of dual variables as a part of the Kuhn-Tucker necessary conditions. Also, it is demonstrated that the usability and feasibility conditions on the search direction of the transformation treatment retard convergence rate. To investigate numerical performances of both treatments, typical optimization algorithms in ADS are employed to solve a min-max steady-state response optimization. All the algorithm tested reveal that the suggested direct treatment is more efficient and stable than the transformation treatment. Also, the better performing of the direct treatment over the transformation treatment is clearly shown by constrasting the convergence paths in the design space of the sample problem. Six min-max transient response optimization problems are also solved by using both treatments, and the comparisons of the results confirm that the performances of the direct treatment is better than those of the tranformation treatment.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.734-745
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• 2021

In order to achieve a good and competitive FPSO design, the building cost and the motion performances are the two most critical and conflicting KPIs to be considered. In this study, the author's previous work (Lee, et al., 2021) on the optimization of an FPSO's hull dimensions with 1800 MBBLs storage capacity at Brazil field was extended using a multi-objective parametric optimization with the hull steel weight and the operability which are closely related to the building cost and the operational cost during the lifetime, respectively. For the purpose of more realistic and practical FPSO design, the constraints related to crew comfort and the safe helicopter take-off and landing operation were newly added. Also, the green water on deck was calculated accurately to check the suitability of the designed freeboard height using a newly developed real-time calculation module for the relative wave elevations. With aids of this updated optimization formulation, we presented multiple optimal FPSO dimensions expressed as a Pareto set which aids FPSO designers to conveniently select the practical and competitive dimensions. The excellence of the developed approach was verified by comparing the optimization results with those of FPSOs dimensioned for operation at West Africa and Brazil field.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.3
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• pp.273-285
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• 2023

This study examines how the interaction between soil and a wind turbine's supporting system affects the optimal design. The supporting system resting on an elastic soil foundation consists of a steel conical tower and a concrete circular raft foundation, and it is subjected to wind loads. The material cost of the supporting system is aimed to be minimized employing various metaheuristic optimization algorithms including teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO). To include the influence of the soil in the optimization process, modified Vlasov and Gazetas elastic soil models are integrated into the optimization algorithms using the application programing interface (API) feature of the structural analysis program providing two-way data flow. As far as the optimal designs are considered, the best minimum cost design is achieved for the TLBO algorithm, and the modified Vlasov model makes the design economical compared with the simple Gazetas and infinitely rigid soil models. Especially, the optimum design dimensions of the raft foundation extremely reduce when the Vlasov realistic soil reactions are included in the optimum analysis. Additionally, as the designated design wind speed is decreased, the beneficial impact of soil interaction on the optimum material cost diminishes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.50-55
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• 2012

This paper presents an application of optimization method for efficient operation in micro grid. For operational efficiency, the objective function in a diesel generator consists of the fuel cost function similar to the cost functions used for the conventional fossil-fuel generating plants. The wind turbine generator is modeled by the characteristics of variable output. The cost function of fuel cell plant considers the efficiency of fuel cell. Particle swarm optimization(PSO) and sequential quadratic programming(SQP) are used for solving the problem of microgrid system operation. Also, from the results this paper presents the way to attend power markets which can buy and sell power from upper lever grids by connecting a various generation resources to micro grid.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.357-365
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• 2014

This paper proposed a multi-objective optimization method for building energy system design using primary energy consumption and initial cost. The designing of building energy systems is a complex task, because life cycle cost and efficiency of building are determined by decisions of engineer during the early stage of design. Therefore, methods such as pareto analysis that can generate various alternatives for decision making are necessary. In this study, the optimization is performed using the NSGAII and case study was carried out for feasibility of the proposed method. As a result, alternative solutions can be obtained for the optimal building energy system design.