Design Optimization and Dynamic Simulation of Steam Cycle Power Plants: A Review

After more than one century from its first use for electric power production, steam cycles are still the object of continuous research and development efforts worldwide. Indeed, owing to favorable thermodynamic properties, not only used in coal-fired plants but a large variety applications such as combined cycles, concentrated solar polygeneration plants. On other hand, cope with efficiency flexibility requirements set by today’s energy markets, design operation must be carefully optimized. A key rule is played simulation optimization codes developed last 30 years. This paper provides an introduction main types problems (design, off-design dynamic), overview mathematical background (possible solution approaches, numerical methods available software), review scientific contributions.