Optimization of Underground Energy Infrastructures

In order to maximize the efficiency of newly proposed underground energy infrastructures, it is significant to conduct a simulation analysis considering the size of the area to be covered and the construction timeframe of the network. An expansion plan of the underground network, maintaining a proper combination with the existing aboveground infrastructures can be optimized by the analysis. For this purpose, a new evaluation index that includes environment or safety aspect as well as initial and operation cost is required. Also, energy flow management, including valuable energy or exergy evaluation, will be one of significant factors in further improving the network efficiency. Five cases discussed in this paper show various features of the existing aboveground infrastructures and the newly planned underground infrastructures, in the timeframe from 2005 through 2080. As a result, although the discussed evaluation is mainly based on the energy flow management, it is shown that the proposed evaluation index is useful in finding out the optimized network plan among the proposed cases, comparing construction cost and long-term operation cost