Simulation Modeling for Energy-Flexible Manufacturing: Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jana Köberlein - , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology (Author)
  • Lukas Bank - , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology (Author)
  • Stefan Roth - , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology (Author)
  • Ekrem Köse - , Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • Timm Kuhlmann - , Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • Bastian Prell - , Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Maximilian Stange - , Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Marc Münnich - , Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Dominik Flum - , Technische Universität Darmstadt (Author)
  • Daniel Moog - , Technische Universität Darmstadt (Author)
  • Steffen Ihlenfeldt - , Chair of Machine Tools Development and Adaptive Controls, Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Alexander Sauer - , Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • Matthias Weigold - , Technische Universität Darmstadt (Author)
  • Johannes Schilp - , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology (Author)

Abstract

Due to the high share of industry in total electricity consumption, industrial demand-side management can make a relevant contribution to the stability of power systems. At the same time, companies get the opportunity to reduce their electricity procurement costs by taking advantage of increasingly fluctuating prices on short-term electricity markets, the provision of system services on balancing power markets, or by increasing the share of their own consumption from on-site generated renewable energy. Demand-side management requires the ability to react flexibly to the power supply situation without negatively affecting production targets. It also means that the management and operation of production must consider not only production-related parameters but also parameters of energy availability, which further increase the complexity of decision-making. Although simulation studies are a recognized tool for supporting decision-making processes in production and logistics, the simultaneous simulation of material and energy flows has so far been limited mainly to issues of energy efficiency as opposed to energy flexibility, where application-oriented experience is still limited. We assume that the consideration of energy flexibility in the simulation of manufacturing systems will amplify already known pitfalls in conducting simulation studies. Based on five represen-tative industrial use cases, this article provides practitioners with application-oriented experiences of the coupling of energy and material flows in simulation modeling of energy-flexible manufac-turing, identifies challenges in the simulation of energy-flexible production systems, and proposes approaches to face these challenges. Seven pitfalls that pose a particular challenge in simulating energy-flexible manufacturing have been identified, and possible solutions and measures for avoiding them are shown. It has been found that, among other things, consistent management of all parties involved, early clarification of energy-related, logistical, and resulting technical requirements for models and software, as well as the application of suitable methods for validation and verification are central to avoiding these pitfalls. The identification and characterization of challenges and the derivation of recommendations for coping with them can raise awareness of typical pitfalls. This paper thus helps to ensure that simulation studies of energy-flexible production systems can be carried out more efficiently in the future.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number3593
JournalEnergies
Volume15
Issue number10
Publication statusPublished - 13 May 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • energy-flexible manufacturing systems, industrial demand-side management, simulation of material and energy flows, simulation pitfalls