Cost Effective and Reliable Energy System for Kathmandu University Complex

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

1.2 Case Study Area

1.3 Statement of Problem

1.4 Research Objectives

1.5 Research Approaches

1.6 Research Nobility

1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Thesis

1.8 Thesis Organization

Chapter 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Hybrid Energy Model

2.2 Cost Analysis

2.3 Reliability Analysis

2.4 HOMER software for optimization

2.5 RAPTOR software for Reliability and Availability analysis

2.6 Comparison between On-grid and Off-grid Hybrid System

2.7 Challenges and Issues of Interconnecting Grid and Embedded Generation

Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1. Problem formulation

3.2. Literature Review

3.3. Input data gathering

3.4. Model Building

3.5. Result Analysis

Chapter 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Cost Analysis of Energy Mix Models

4.2 Reliability and Availability analysis of different Energy Mix Models

Chapter 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Recommendations & Future Work

Objectives & Key Topics

This study aims to identify the most cost-effective and reliable hybrid energy mix model for the Kathmandu University (KU) complex by evaluating various energy resources, including the grid, diesel generators, and solar PV, under different operational scenarios (on-grid and off-grid) using computational simulation software.

• Techno-economic analysis using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER).
• Reliability and availability assessment via Monte Carlo simulation using RAPTOR software.
• Evaluation of energy mix configurations for three distinct operational cases (on-grid with/without capital investment and off-grid).
• Comparative study of total net present cost (TNPC) and cost of energy (COE) for identified models.
• Analysis of system performance metrics such as mean time between failures (MTBF) and system availability.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Chapter 1: Provides an introduction to the necessity of reliable power systems in Nepal, defines the research problem within the KU complex, and outlines the research objectives and scope.

Chapter 2: Reviews existing literature regarding hybrid energy models, cost analysis techniques, and reliability evaluation methodologies, including the software used for simulation.

Chapter 3: Details the research methodology, including data collection from the Nepal Electricity Authority, input modeling for HOMER, and the reliability simulation approach using RAPTOR.

Chapter 4: Presents the results of the cost optimization and reliability analysis for the various energy mix models across different operational cases.

Chapter 5: Concludes the study by identifying the most cost-effective and reliable models and provides recommendations for future work, such as power quality studies.

Keywords

Hybrid Energy Model, Kathmandu University, HOMER, RAPTOR, Monte Carlo Simulation, Cost of Energy, Net Present Cost, Reliability Analysis, Availability, Diesel Generator, Solar PV, Grid Interconnection, MTBF, MTTR, Power Systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this dissertation?

The dissertation focuses on designing a cost-effective and reliable hybrid energy system for the Kathmandu University complex to mitigate the impact of frequent power outages.

What are the primary energy resources analyzed?

The study evaluates a combination of grid electricity, three different sizes of diesel generators, solar PV, and battery storage systems.

What is the main research objective?

The objective is to identify and compare energy mix models that fulfill the university's load demand while optimizing for levelized cost and system reliability.

Which scientific methods are utilized for this analysis?

The research employs HOMER software for cost optimization and Monte Carlo simulation within RAPTOR software for reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) analysis.

What does the main part of the thesis cover?

The main section covers the systematic building of hybrid models, detailed cost analysis under three different cases, and rigorous reliability simulations to determine the optimal configuration.

Which keywords characterize this research?

Key terms include hybrid energy model, HOMER, RAPTOR, reliability analysis, and total net present cost.

How does capital cost impact the choice of the energy model?

The study shows that the choice of the optimal model shifts significantly depending on whether initial capital investment is included or excluded, as demonstrated by the comparison between Case I and Case III.

Why is reliability assessment important for Kathmandu University?

Reliability is critical because the university has sensitive loads related to laboratory work, official operations, and presentations that cannot tolerate frequent power interruptions.