Distribuição de gás natural no Brasil: um enfoque crítico e de minimização de custos

Abstract

Most countries in the world has been increasing the use of the natural gas, motivated by the need of an environmental and versatile energy source. However, to obtain high benefits of the natural gas use, it is necessary to spread its use through alternatives that make possible high energy efficiency. Among these alternatives, the substitution of the electricity use for heating or cooling, and the PLG use in the kitchens, as well as the supply for cogeneration systems must be emphasized. The adoption of these strategies will produce effective economical environmental returns mainly in the residential and commercial sectors, if residences and commercial establishments do have access to natural gas and also information concerning the new available technologies for operation in those small scale consumption sectors. Therefore, it is fundamental that the natural gas dealers provide better acessibility to the distribution infrastructures. Considering that the decision concerning the infrastructures implantation for distribution of natural gas is strategic, the primordial objective of this work is to build a model to minimize the costs of providing of infrastructures for natural gas distribution. For this, a mathematical model was developed using binary linear programming to indicate infrastructures to be implemented which minimize the total supply costs. The software LINGO 7.0. was used to help in the solution of the problem. Three tests of the model were run which present good reults. The model led to optimal solutions even when subjected to variations of the input parameters, proving to be efficient and flexible. These variations, considered in the different sceneries, represent real situations that may happen during the operation of natural gas distribution system.