DIMAP: a Very Flexible Tool for Power Plant Simulation

The code DIMAP, developed at the Depart-ment of Mechanical Engineering of the Uni-versity of Padova, allows to study complex plant arrangements and provides the analyst many different tools: it performs first-law, second-law and exergoeconomic calculations; analyzes many different plant configurations at both design and off-design (part load) oper-ation; can be matched with on-line data acqui-sition systems (distributed control systems); supplies information about the location and the impact of malfunctions on global plant per-formances; sustains operation management and maintenance schedule activities. This paper focuses on DIMAP modular archi-tecture and its original solution technique, which allows high flexibility and low computa-tion time. The options available to the user to meet his/her goals are highlighted. Finally, an example of application of DIMAP to some energy conversion systems illustrates its potentialities.