Bus component for multi-source and multi-sink systems

Bus component for multi-source and multi-sink systems

Originally noted by @jmartin4nrel

Summary

Create a unified "bus" component that combines the functionality of both combiner and splitter, enabling support for >2 electricity sources and >2 electricity sinks in a single component. This would replace the current two-component approach for complex electrical systems.

Background

Currently, H2Integrate requires separate electricity_combiner (2 inputs into 1 output) and electricity_splitter (1 input into 2 outputs) components. For systems with multiple sources (wind, solar, nuclear) and multiple sinks (electrolysis, deferrable load, non-deferrable load), users must chain multiple components, creating complex interconnection configurations.

Proposed Solution

Implement an ElectricalBusComponent that acts as a central hub for electrical power distribution with configurable numbers of inputs and outputs.

Considerations:

• configurable priority order for output allocation
• equal split, priority-based, or custom allocation logic
• optional constraints on individual input/output limits?

Plant Configuration:

technology_interconnections: [
  ["wind", "electrical_bus", "electricity", "cable"],
  ["solar", "electrical_bus", "electricity", "cable"], 
  ["nuclear", "electrical_bus", "electricity", "cable"],
  ["electrical_bus", "electrolysis", "electricity", "cable"],
  ["electrical_bus", "deferrable_load", "electricity", "cable"],
  ["electrical_bus", "non_deferrable_load", "electricity", "cable"],
]

Extension to Other Commodities

While this issue focuses on electricity, the bus concept could extend to other commodity types. In a simplistic way, this is doable with the changes accomplished by solving #229. However, gas/liquid commodity buses might have additional complexity, like:

• Storage/buffering requirements
• Pressure/temperature constraints
• Mixing compatibility issues
• Transport lag times

I suggest starting with electrical bus implementation, then evaluating commodity-specific requirements before extending the pattern.

Start by reading the existing electricity_combiner and electricity_splitter components and the technology_interconnections configuration shown in the issue. Define how electrical inputs and outputs should be allocated, including priority or equal-split behavior and any limits, before implementing the bus. Done means a single electrical bus can support more than two sources and sinks in the example plant configuration.