A novel mathematical modeling approach to the electric dispatch problem: Case study using Differential Evolution algorithms

Nowadays, the population growth and economic development causes the need for electricity power to increase every year. An unit dispatch problem is defined as the attribution of operational values to each generation unit inside a power plant, given some criteria to be obeyed like the total power to be generated, operational bounds of these units etc. In this context, an optimal dispatch programming for hydroelectric units in energy plants provides a bigger production of electricity to be generated with a minimal water amount. This paper presents an optimization solution for hydroelectric generating system of a plant, using Differential Evolution algorithms. The novel mathematical model proposed and validation of the obtained algorithms will be performed with practical simulation experiments. Throughout the text, the equations and models for the system simulation will be fully described, and the experiments and results will be objectively analysed through statistical inference. Simulation results indicate savings of 6.5 million litres of water for each month of operation using the proposed solution.