AUT Journal of Electrical Engineering

AUT Journal of Electrical Engineering

Integrated Energy Hub Optimization for Cost Reduction in a Fabric Concrete Production Line Using Measurement-Based Modeling

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran PolyTechnic), Tehran 1591634311, Iran
2 Faculty of Energy Engineering, Imam Hossein Comprehensive University, Tehran, Iran
10.22060/eej.2026.25913.6025
Abstract
Industrial manufacturing lines are well suited to integrated multi‑energy planning; however, many existing energy hub (EH) studies rely on synthetic load profiles or simplified thermal representations that limit their practical applicability at the factory scale. This paper develops a measurement‑informed, factory‑scale EH optimization model for a fabric‑reinforced concrete production line. Grid electricity and natural gas are modeled as primary energy carriers, while photovoltaic (PV) generation, diesel backup generation, and furnace waste‑heat recovery (WHR) are incorporated as complementary technologies within a transparent linear programming framework. All model parameters are derived from on‑site electrical and thermal audit data, allowing the analysis to reflect the actual operating envelope of the production line. Seven scenarios are investigated to isolate the economic, environmental, and reliability impacts of PV self‑consumption and export, diesel backup operation under grid outages, and WHR utilization. To assess the robustness of the proposed framework, sensitivity analyses are performed. Results indicate that under low industrial electricity tariffs, PV primarily contributes to emission reduction, whereas attractive feed-in tariffs transform PV into the most economically beneficial technology through electricity export. WHR consistently reduces natural gas consumption and associated emissions but remains economically attractive only under favorable fuel pricing or investment conditions. Diesel generation becomes economically justified only when grid outages and production losses are considered, highlighting its role as a resilience asset rather than a routine energy source. Overall, the proposed framework provides a transparent, computationally efficient, and policy-relevant decision-support tool for industrial EH planning under evolving market and regulatory conditions.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 August 2026