NEW EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHMS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM OPERATIONAL ENGINEERING

Abstract

In this research work, models will be developed for optimal dispatch problems applied in a smart grid environment. The models will be used to solve optimal dispatch problems and other problems such as: optimal power flow , unit commitment and short term hydrothermal scheduling for a smart grid environment. The main objectives of smart grid include the optimization of energy production, minimization of the production cost, integration of renewable energy resources and implementation of real time pricing and billing. Each problem will be effected by the objectives of the smart grid and the tools used to implement these objectives such as demand side management (DSM) and load forecasting. There are many constraints in the problems treated such as generators capacity, ramp rate limit, and prohibited operational zones. This research will define the changes in all these constraints. There is also the problem of valve point effects for thermal driven units which will change the fuel cost equation of the generators, which categorizes it as a non-smooth and non-convex problem. The second objective of this work will be selecting a suitable algorithm or algorithms to solve the problems with different constraints. The algorithms tested are population based and are inspired by nature. A new heuristic optimization technique called Khums optimization algorithm is introduced and tested on some of the problems treated.