PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde
PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde
PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde
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Again, as in the demand definition section, pr<strong>of</strong>iles <strong>of</strong> rate <strong>of</strong> production for<br />
these fuels can be added together if desired, and these pr<strong>of</strong>iles are made<br />
available for use by the chosen supply technologies. As some energy input is<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten necessary for most <strong>of</strong> these processes (in the form <strong>of</strong> electricity for<br />
shredding, heat for drying etc), demand pr<strong>of</strong>iles for electricity, heat and hot<br />
water are also calculated and taken forward to the matching stage along with the<br />
fuel production information. Due to the specific requirements <strong>of</strong> transportation<br />
demand pr<strong>of</strong>iles (described later), any related transportation demands (e.g.<br />
agricultural vehicle use) should be defined separately in the demand definition<br />
section. Each combined fuel supply set, therefore, has three demand pr<strong>of</strong>iles<br />
associated with it, and thirteen fuel pr<strong>of</strong>iles (one each for low heating value<br />
biogas, medium heating value biogas, 95% methane, hydrogen, ethanol,<br />
methanol, biodiesel, RDF, pyrolysis oil, charcoal, other1, other2 and other3).<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> these may, however, be zero pr<strong>of</strong>iles. Any demand pr<strong>of</strong>iles would be<br />
added to the chosen demands on matching so, when it comes to demand and<br />
supply matching, there is a facility to allow the chosen fuel production processes<br />
to be turned on or <strong>of</strong>f to avoid unnecessary demands being considered.<br />
4.2.2 Intermittent <strong>Energy</strong> Supplies<br />
Supply technologies such as wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) panels, PV<br />
concentrator systems and flat plate collectors are commonly used for the<br />
production <strong>of</strong> electricity, heat and hot water. These supplies are highly<br />
dependent on climate conditions, so standard half-hourly climate information<br />
such as wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature, direct normal and<br />
diffuse horizontal solar radiation are required in order to be able to predict the<br />
half-hourly output patterns <strong>of</strong> such devices. As these supply technologies rely<br />
heavily on climate conditions, their output is intermittent and unreliable.<br />
Suitable methods for modelling the production <strong>of</strong> energy from these intermittent<br />
technologies are already available in MERIT. Technologies are chosen or<br />
defined as described in Section 4.2.1, and rate <strong>of</strong> supply pr<strong>of</strong>iles for electricity,<br />
heat and/or hot water are created, similar to those for demand, and using the<br />
same units. Again, as with the demand definition section, pr<strong>of</strong>iles can be added<br />
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