Optimal Solution to the Hydro-Steam Dispatch Problem for Certain Practical Systems

The maximum principle by Pontryagin is applied to the problem of determining the operation of a hydro-steam generating system for the minimum generating costs. The general dispatch formulas are derived for power systems with hydroelectric plants having fixed head, varying head, and hydraulic coupling, both with and without river transport delay and wave phenomena. Techniques are demonstrated which greatly simplify the computer solutions for fixed and varying head operation.