Software-defined modular energy system design and operation

A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for energy system design, the computer program product comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform operations of:

• obtaining a set of energy system plant requirements for a mechanical system, wherein the mechanical system comprises a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components includes a liquid piston heat engine;
• optimizing, using one or more processors, a plant description, wherein the plant description is based on the set of energy system plant requirements and a library of components;
• designing, using one or more processors, a specification for an energy system plant, wherein the specification includes components from the library of components, along with couplings among the components;
• and
• outputting an energy system plant design, based on the specification, wherein the design enables energy system plant construction.

A system for energy system design comprising:

• a memory which stores instructions;
• one or more processors coupled to the memory wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions which are stored, are configured to:
• obtain a set of energy system plant requirements for a mechanical system, wherein the mechanical system comprises a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components includes a liquid piston heat engine;
• optimize, using one or more processors, a plant description, wherein the plant description is based on the set of energy system plant requirements and a library of components;
• design, using one or more processors, a specification for an energy system plant, wherein the specification includes components from the library of components, along with couplings among the components;
• and
• output an energy system plant design, based on the specification, wherein the design enables energy system plant construction.