Genetic Algorithm Solution for a Convex Hydro-Thermal Generation Scheduling

The paper proposes a Genetic Algorithm solution for solving a short term hydro thermal scheduling problem. The scheduling has been done for a period of twenty four hours. The algorithm is first applied on hydro plants for calculating hydro generation and then on thermal units for calculating economic load dispatch among the given units. The various constraints like load balancing, thermal and hydro generation limits, initial/final volume and discharge from the hydro reservoir are taken in to consideration. The algorithm has been demonstrated on a hydro-thermal system and has effectively taken care of all the constraints which has helped in removing the penalty factors from the problem. The parameters that affect the performance of Genetic Algorithm are discussed and the theoretical background of the method has been presented. The optimal cost based on the Genetic algorithm has been calculated for the given hydro thermal system generators.