@inproceedings{MuellerAltherrAholaetal.2019, author = {M{\"u}ller, Tim M. and Altherr, Lena and Ahola, Marja and Schabel, Samuel and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Multi-Criteria optimization of pressure screen systems in paper recycling - balancing quality, yield, energy consumption and system complexity}, series = {EngOpt 2018 Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Engineering Optimization}, booktitle = {EngOpt 2018 Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Engineering Optimization}, editor = {Rodrigues, H. C.}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, address = {Basel}, isbn = {978-3-319-97773-7}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-97773-7_105}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The paper industry is the industry with the third highest energy consumption in the European Union. Using recycled paper instead of fresh fibers for papermaking is less energy consuming and saves resources. However, adhesive contaminants in recycled paper are particularly problematic since they reduce the quality of the resulting paper-product. To remove as many contaminants and at the same time obtain as many valuable fibres as possible, fine screening systems, consisting of multiple interconnected pressure screens, are used. Choosing the best configuration is a non-trivial task: The screens can be interconnected in several ways, and suitable screen designs as well as operational parameters have to be selected. Additionally, one has to face conflicting objectives. In this paper, we present an approach for the multi-criteria optimization of pressure screen systems based on Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming. We specifically focus on a clear representation of the trade-off between different objectives.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AltherrEdererSchaenzleetal.2017, author = {Altherr, Lena and Ederer, Thorsten and Sch{\"a}nzle, Christian and Lorenz, Ulf and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Algorithmic system design using scaling and affinity laws}, series = {Operations Research Proceedings 2015}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2015}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-319-42901-4}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-42902-1}, pages = {605 -- 611}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Energy-efficient components do not automatically lead to energy-efficient systems. Technical Operations Research (TOR) shifts the focus from the single component to the system as a whole and finds its optimal topology and operating strategy simultaneously. In previous works, we provided a preselected construction kit of suitable components for the algorithm. This approach may give rise to a combinatorial explosion if the preselection cannot be cut down to a reasonable number by human intuition. To reduce the number of discrete decisions, we integrate laws derived from similarity theory into the optimization model. Since the physical characteristics of a production series are similar, it can be described by affinity and scaling laws. Making use of these laws, our construction kit can be modeled more efficiently: Instead of a preselection of components, it now encompasses whole model ranges. This allows us to significantly increase the number of possible set-ups in our model. In this paper, we present how to embed this new formulation into a mixed-integer program and assess the run time via benchmarks. We present our approach on the example of a ventilation system design problem.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AltherrEdererVergeetal.2015, author = {Altherr, Lena and Ederer, Thorsten and Verg{\´e}, Angela and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Algorithmische Struktursynthese eines hydrostatischen Getriebes}, series = {Antriebssysteme 2015 : Elektrik, Mechanik, Fluidtechnik in der Anwendung}, booktitle = {Antriebssysteme 2015 : Elektrik, Mechanik, Fluidtechnik in der Anwendung}, publisher = {VDI-Verlag}, address = {D{\"u}sseldorf}, isbn = {978-3-18-092268-3}, pages = {145 -- 155}, year = {2015}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{SchaenzleAltherrEdereretal.2015, author = {Sch{\"a}nzle, Christian and Altherr, Lena and Ederer, Thorsten and Lorenz, Ulf and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {As good as it can be: Ventilation system design by a combined scaling and discrete optimization method}, series = {Proceedings of FAN 2015}, booktitle = {Proceedings of FAN 2015}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The understanding that optimized components do not automatically lead to energy-efficient systems sets the attention from the single component on the entire technical system. At TU Darmstadt, a new field of research named Technical Operations Research (TOR) has its origin. It combines mathematical and technical know-how for the optimal design of technical systems. We illustrate our optimization approach in a case study for the design of a ventilation system with the ambition to minimize the energy consumption for a temporal distribution of diverse load demands. By combining scaling laws with our optimization methods we find the optimal combination of fans and show the advantage of the use of multiple fans.}, language = {en} } @article{PoettgenEdererAltherretal.2015, author = {P{\"o}ttgen, Philipp and Ederer, Thorsten and Altherr, Lena and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Developing a control strategy for booster stations under uncertain load}, series = {Applied Mechanics and Materials}, volume = {807}, journal = {Applied Mechanics and Materials}, number = {807}, publisher = {Trans Tech Publications}, address = {B{\"a}ch}, isbn = {1662-7482}, doi = {10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.807.241}, pages = {241 -- 246}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Booster stations can fulfill a varying pressure demand with high energy-efficiency, because individual pumps can be deactivated at smaller loads. Although this is a seemingly simple approach, it is not easy to decide precisely when to activate or deactivate pumps. Contemporary activation controls derive the switching points from the current volume flow through the system. However, it is not measured directly for various reasons. Instead, the controller estimates the flow based on other system properties. This causes further uncertainty for the switching decision. In this paper, we present a method to find a robust, yet energy-efficient activation strategy.}, language = {en} } @article{PoettgenEdererAltherretal.2015, author = {P{\"o}ttgen, Philipp and Ederer, Thorsten and Altherr, Lena and Lorenz, Ulf and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Examination and optimization of a heating circuit for energy-efficient buildings}, series = {Energy Technology}, volume = {4}, journal = {Energy Technology}, number = {1}, publisher = {WILEY-VCH Verlag}, address = {Weinheim}, isbn = {2194-4296}, doi = {10.1002/ente.201500252}, pages = {136 -- 144}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The conference center darmstadtium in Darmstadt is a prominent example of energy efficient buildings. Its heating system consists of different source and consumer circuits connected by a Zortstr{\"o}m reservoir. Our goal was to reduce the energy costs of the system as much as possible. Therefore, we analyzed its supply circuits. The first step towards optimization is a complete examination of the system: 1) Compilation of an object list for the system, 2) collection of the characteristic curves of the components, and 3) measurement of the load profiles of the heat and volume-flow demand. Instead of modifying the system manually and testing the solution by simulation, the second step was the creation of a global optimization program. The objective was to minimize the total energy costs for one year. We compare two different topologies and show opportunities for significant savings.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AltherrEdererFarnetaneetal.2017, author = {Altherr, Lena and Ederer, Thorsten and Farnetane, Lucas S. and P{\"o}ttgen, Philipp and Verg{\´e}, Angela and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Multicriterial design of a hydrostatic transmission system via mixed-integer programming}, series = {Operations Research Proceedings 2015}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2015}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-319-42901-4}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-42902-1_41}, pages = {301 -- 307}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In times of planned obsolescence the demand for sustainability keeps growing. Ideally, a technical system is highly reliable, without failures and down times due to fast wear of single components. At the same time, maintenance should preferably be limited to pre-defined time intervals. Dispersion of load between multiple components can increase a system's reliability and thus its availability inbetween maintenance points. However, this also results in higher investment costs and additional efforts due to higher complexity. Given a specific load profile and resulting wear of components, it is often unclear which system structure is the optimal one. Technical Operations Research (TOR) finds an optimal structure balancing availability and effort. We present our approach by designing a hydrostatic transmission system.}, language = {en} } @article{AltherrEdererPoettgenetal.2015, author = {Altherr, Lena and Ederer, Thorsten and P{\"o}ttgen, Philipp and Lorenz, Ulf and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Multicriterial optimization of technical systems considering multiple load and availability scenarios}, series = {Applied Mechanics and Materials}, volume = {807}, journal = {Applied Mechanics and Materials}, editor = {Pelz, Peter F. and Groche, Peter}, isbn = {1660-9336}, doi = {10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.807.247}, pages = {247 -- 256}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Cheap does not imply cost-effective -- this is rule number one of zeitgeisty system design. The initial investment accounts only for a small portion of the lifecycle costs of a technical system. In fluid systems, about ninety percent of the total costs are caused by other factors like power consumption and maintenance. With modern optimization methods, it is already possible to plan an optimal technical system considering multiple objectives. In this paper, we focus on an often neglected contribution to the lifecycle costs: downtime costs due to spontaneous failures. Consequently, availability becomes an issue.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{LorenzAltherrPelz2020, author = {Lorenz, Imke-Sophie and Altherr, Lena and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Resilience enhancement of critical infrastructure - graph-theoretical resilience analysis of the water distribution system in the German city of Darmstadt}, series = {14th WCEAM Proceedings}, booktitle = {14th WCEAM Proceedings}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-64228-0}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-64228-0_13}, pages = {137 -- 149}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Water suppliers are faced with the great challenge of achieving high-quality and, at the same time, low-cost water supply. Since climatic and demographic influences will pose further challenges in the future, the resilience enhancement of water distribution systems (WDS), i.e. the enhancement of their capability to withstand and recover from disturbances, has been in particular focus recently. To assess the resilience of WDS, graph-theoretical metrics have been proposed. In this study, a promising approach is first physically derived analytically and then applied to assess the resilience of the WDS for a district in a major German City. The topology based resilience index computed for every consumer node takes into consideration the resistance of the best supply path as well as alternative supply paths. This resistance of a supply path is derived to be the dimensionless pressure loss in the pipes making up the path. The conducted analysis of a present WDS provides insight into the process of actively influencing the resilience of WDS locally and globally by adding pipes. The study shows that especially pipes added close to the reservoirs and main branching points in the WDS result in a high resilience enhancement of the overall WDS.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{LorenzAltherrPelz2020, author = {Lorenz, Imke-Sophie and Altherr, Lena and Pelz, Peter F.}, title = {Assessing and Optimizing the Resilience of Water Distribution Systems Using Graph-Theoretical Metrics}, series = {Operations Research Proceedings 2019}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2019}, editor = {Neufeld, Janis S. and Buscher, Udo and Lasch, Rainer and M{\"o}st, Dominik and Sch{\"o}nberger, J{\"o}rn}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-48439-2}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-48439-2_63}, pages = {521 -- 527}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Water distribution systems are an essential supply infrastructure for cities. Given that climatic and demographic influences will pose further challenges for these infrastructures in the future, the resilience of water supply systems, i.e. their ability to withstand and recover from disruptions, has recently become a subject of research. To assess the resilience of a WDS, different graph-theoretical approaches exist. Next to general metrics characterizing the network topology, also hydraulic and technical restrictions have to be taken into account. In this work, the resilience of an exemplary water distribution network of a major German city is assessed, and a Mixed-Integer Program is presented which allows to assess the impact of capacity adaptations on its resilience.}, language = {en} }