DNA - An integrated open-source optimization platform for thermo-fluid systems

This paper presents developments and new features added to the simulation tool Dynamic Network Analysis. This open-source software is the result of ongoing development at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark since 1988. Ever since, it has been employed to model dynamic and steady-state energy systems and is now available for the most common operating systems (Windows, Mac OS and Linux). Emerging interest in novel plant technologies, high-temperature heat pumps, refrigeration absorption modules, and in energy system optimization has stressed the necessity to extend the capabilities of the software, while at the same time decreasing computational time. Dynamic Network Analysis can now solve non-convex optimization problems by virtue of the fully-embedded genetic algorithm. Moreover, the thermophysical fluid property library has been extended with more than 110 fluids by interfacing CoolProp, a high-accuracy open-source property package for pure and pseudo-pure fluids, as well as humid air. Furthermore, the use as time integrator for other tools is demonstrated. The new features are unveiled in two case studies. The first example covers the optimization of an air bottoming cycle unit recuperating the exhaust heat from an offshore power system. Subsequently, the control of a compressed air energy storage plant is modelled by interfacing with Matlab. Both cases take advantage of CoolProp’s table-based property interpolation scheme