ENERGY MANAGEMENT SIMULATORS
POSTED
JANUARY 30, 2014: NEW U.S. ENERGY
MANAGEMENT SIMULATORS. SEE DESCRIPTIONS BELOW.
IF YOU ARE RUNNING AN ENERGY COURSE, THERE
IS A PROGRESSION OF MODELS HERE THAT WORKS WELL. THE GROUP ENERGY PROGRAM
MIMICS THE OLD DOE/MONTANA STATE ENERGY &
ENVIRONMENT SIMULATOR AND IS A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF
SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR ENERGY IN A GIVEN COUNTRY. THE MODEL-2
SIMULATION IS SLIGHTLY MORE SOPHISTICATED AND MAKES A GOOD SECOND MODEL.
THEN THE INTERNATIONAL SIMULATOR (2011) OR THE US SIMULATOR (2011) MAKE GOOD CAPSTONE MODELS. I HAVE ONLY RETAINED THE MOST
RECENT WORLD ENERGY MODEL, THE OLDER MODEL BEING TOO COMPLEX FOR MOST APPLICATIONS.
See the descriptions below for more
details.
U.S. ENERGY SIMULATORS 2014
WINDOWS (MULTI RESOLUTIONS):
This series of 3 models of increasing
complexity and realism offer simplified and uniform user interfaces with all
interactions taking place on a single screen. The older (see below) simulators
are more graphically interesting and can run at lower screen resolutions, but
require screen switching throughout a simulator run. Other changes
in this newer software speeds up the simulation run considerably giving
more options for student assignments. In order to utilize the one screen
graphics, a minimum screen resolution of 1024x768 is required. See the images
below:
Model 1 gives control of both resources
and demands and includes food supplies. This is a model to use letting the
population grow to see the ultimate effects.
Model 2 concentrates on supply with demands
adjusting automatically with population and efficiency. This model includes a
randomly triggered Global Warming Treaty that requires a 50 year phase out of
the fossil fuels.
Model 3 has the user set resource usage for the next
century. It keeps track of capital costs and land use as well.
THE FOLLOWING ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THE OLDER SET OF SIMULATORS.
WORLD ENERGY 2011
WINDOWS (MULTI RESOLUTIONS):
This newest simulator is designed to quickly examine a variety of goals set either universally for all the planet or individually by the six main regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania). These goals include population growth, living standard, and the mix of energy resources to be used in the future. The primary aim of the simulator is to allow the user to change one or two parameters and quickly see the result this has on the future. The main interaction is therefore in setting up the initial conditions and goals for the simulation. For a more 'play time interaction' see the World Energy simulator below.
UNITED STATES ENERGY 2011
WINDOWS (MULTI RESOLUTIONS):
The latest version of the basic U.S. Energy Management software is now available.
This new version tries to combine the best of the earlier simulators with the more recent series based on our yearly class project www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY_PROJECT/ENERGY2100.htm. Some of the features of the new model include:
1) Relatively short execution time for the entire simulation.
2) A more complete and sophisticated model than previous simulations.
3) More user adjustable parameters. For example, immigration is a separate factor in population growth and can be adjusted in a number of ways.
4) New graphics.
ENERGY FOR THE 22ND CENTURY:
FUTURE ENERGY 2011
WINDOWS (MULTI RESOLUTIONS):
This simulator is a much simplified version of the EnergyProject 2100 simulator described below. The entire simulation can be completed in just a few minutes. The goal, however, is the same--to provide energy into the next century without the Fossil fuels (coal can be optionally included). The simulator will emphasize the number of plants/units needed, the land use, and the capital costs involved. This simulator would be well suited for High School use.
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY 2011:
WINDOWS (MULTI RESOLUTIONS ):
Based on the software described below
(Energy Project 2100), this new package allows one to play different regions or
countries. These include the WORLD, AFRICA,
ASIA, WESTERN EUROPE, EASTERN EUROPE, SCANDINAVIA, CENTRAL AMERICA, MIDDLE
EAST, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA, FRANCE, GERMANY, INDIA, ITALY, JAPAN,
MEXICO, NEW ZEALAND, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SPAIN, TURKEY, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED
STATES.
SPECIAL NOTE: The INTERNATIONAL PROJECT may not run on a network because the large amount of graphic data and large number of parameters may require that the program write a temporary file. On most network setups, the user doesn't have write access. It is possible that your network administrator can allow this program to write such files or perhaps your network works differently than ours. Please check that the program does run in a network environment before using it with students.
U.S. ENERGY (MODEL 2) 2011:
WINDOWS (MULTI RESOLUTIONS):
This is an earlier version of the U.S. simulator that works well if progressing through models from simple to complex. In the new version, the initial Scenario setup has been simplified, the actual play of the simulation has been simplified, and there is an option to increase the time increment to 5-years and thus permit completion of the simulation in about 1/5 the normal time. All data have been updated. This version does not contain the animated tutorials, but these can be accessed by downloading the Animated Chalkboard--Energy package. Recent updates provide a more realistic time-line for new energy technology growth.
The primary goal for the student is to maintain a standard of living close to that at the start of the simulation. While the living standard takes into account both increasing efficiency and conservation initiatives, dwindling reserves makes the process difficult.
GROUP ENERGY
THIS PACKAGE OFFERS
AN EXPERIENCE THAT CLOSELY MIMICS THE OLD ANALOG COMPUTER FROM MONTANA STATE
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. IT ALLOWS YOU TO SETUP UP TO 5 CONTROL PANELS
(USING SEPARATE COMPUTERS) THAT WILL INPUT CONTROL TO A CENTRAL COMPUTER THAT
SHOULD BE USED TO DISPLAY A PROJECTED VIEW OF THE SCREEN. THE IDEA IS THAT THE
INPUT IS SEPARATED INTO MANY PARTS SO THAT EACH STUDENT OR STUDENT TEAM AS ONLY
PART OF THE CONTROL. THE PROJECTED SCREEN DISPLAYES THE RESULTS OF THE GROUP
INPUT WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL SCREENS HAVE CONTROL PANEL GRAPHICS THAT THE
STUDENTS USE TO MAKE CHANGES. THIS VERSION IS SCHEDULED FOR THE
MULTI-RESOLUTION UPGRADE, BUT CURRENTLY RUNS AT 1024x768 WINDOWS ONLY. TO USE
THIS, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOG EACH COMPUTER INTO A SHARED SERVER LOCATION
WHERE EACH COMPUTER HAS READ AND WRITE PERMISSIONS. IN OUR ENVIRONMENT,
WIRELESS LAPTOPS CONNECTED TO THE CAMPUS NETWORK AND EACH LOGGED INTO MY
ACCOUNT OR THE PHYSICS ACCOUNT (THROUGH MY LOGIN) WORKS.
