AN OPTIMAL OPERATIONAL ADVISORY SYSTEM FOR A BREWERYS ENERGY SUPPLY PLANT

An optimal operational advisory system is proposed to operate rational ly a brewery's energy supply plant from the economical viewpoint. A mi xed-integer linear programming problem is formulated so as to minimize the daily operational cost subject to constraints such as equipment p erformance characteristics, energy supply-demand relations, and some p ractical operational restrictions. This problem includes lots of unkno wn variables and a hierarchical approach is adopted to derive numerica l solutions. The optimal solution obtained by this method is indicated to the plant operators so as to support their decision making. Throug h the numerical study for a real brewery plant, the possibility of sav ing operational cost is ascertained.