A hybrid GA–PS–SQP method to solve power system valve-point economic dispatch problems

This study presents a new approach based on a hybrid algorithm consisting of Genetic Algorithm (GA), Pattern Search (PS) and Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) techniques to solve the well-known power system Economic dispatch problem (ED). GA is the main optimizer of the algorithm, whereas PS and SQP are used to fine tune the results of GA to increase confidence in the solution. For illustrative purposes, the algorithm has been applied to various test systems to assess its effectiveness. Furthermore, convergence characteristics and robustness of the proposed method have been explored through comparison with results reported in literature. The outcome is very encouraging and suggests that the hybrid GA–PS–SQP algorithm is very efficient in solving power system economic dispatch problem

A Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Heuristic for Market-Oriented Task-Level Scheduling in Cloud Workflow Systems

Cloud workflow system is a kind of platform service based on cloud computing. It facilitates the automation of workflow applications. Between cloud workflow system and its counterparts, market-oriented business model is one of the most prominent factors. The optimization of task-level scheduling in cloud workflow system is a hot topic. As the scheduling is a NP problem, Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) have been proposed to optimize the cost. However, they have the characteristic of premature convergence in optimization process and therefore cannot effectively reduce the cost. To solve these problems, Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO) algorithm with chaotic sequence and adaptive inertia weight factor is applied to present the task-level scheduling. Chaotic sequence with high randomness improves the diversity of solutions, and its regularity assures a good global convergence. Adaptive inertia weight factor depends on the estimate value of cost. It makes the scheduling avoid premature convergence by properly balancing between global and local exploration. The experimental simulation shows that the cost obtained by our scheduling is always lower than the other two representative counterparts

Optimal prediction intervals of wind power generation

Accurate and reliable wind power forecasting is essential to power system operation. Given significant uncertainties involved in wind generation, probabilistic interval forecasting provides a unique solution to estimate and quantify the potential impacts and risks facing system operation with wind penetration beforehand. This paper proposes a novel hybrid intelligent algorithm approach to directly formulate optimal prediction intervals of wind power generation based on extreme learning machine and particle swarm optimization. Prediction intervals with associated confidence levels are generated through direct optimization of both the coverage probability and sharpness to ensure the quality. The proposed method does not involve the statistical inference or distribution assumption of forecasting errors needed in most existing methods. Case studies using real wind farm data from Australia have been conducted. Comparing with benchmarks applied, experimental results demonstrate the high efficiency and reliability of the developed approach. It is therefore convinced that the proposed method provides a new generalized framework for probabilistic wind power forecasting with high reliability and flexibility and has a high potential of practical applications in power systems

Fast Security Constraint Unit Commitment by Utilizing Chaotic Crow Search Algorithm

This paper investigates the optimal operation of security constraint unit commitment (SCUC) as one of the most important concern in power system operation. SCUC is a mixed integer nonlinear problem (MINLP) which is hard to solve and also the optimal solution is not guarantee. To overcome this drawback, a new evolutionary method known as the chaotic crow search algorithm is developed. The proposed problem includes some significant constraints such as spinning reserve, generators ramp rate, load balance, and power limits. Finally, the proposed method is examined on a 10-unit distribution network. The results show the effectiveness and merit of the proposed technique

WIND POWER PROBABILISTIC PREDICTION AND UNCERTAINTY MODELING FOR OPERATION OF LARGE-SCALE POWER SYSTEMS

Over the last decade, large scale renewable energy generation has been integrated into power systems. Wind power generation is known as a widely-used and interesting kind of renewable energy generation around the world. However, the high uncertainty of wind power generation leads to some unavoidable error in wind power prediction process; consequently, it makes the optimal operation and control of power systems very challenging. Since wind power prediction error cannot be entirely removed, providing accurate models for wind power uncertainty can assist power system operators in mitigating its negative effects on decision making conditions. There are efficient ways to show the wind power uncertainty, (i) accurate wind power prediction error probability distribution modeling in the form of probability density functions and (ii) construction of reliable and sharp prediction intervals. Construction of accurate probability density functions and high-quality prediction intervals are difficult because wind power time series is non-stationary. In addition, incorporation of probability density functions and prediction intervals in power systems’ decision-making problems are challenging. In this thesis, the goal is to propose comprehensive frameworks for wind power uncertainty modeling in the form of both probability density functions and prediction intervals and incorporation of each model in power systems’ decision-making problems such as look-ahead economic dispatch. To accurately quantify the uncertainty of wind power generation, different approaches are studied, and a comprehensive framework is then proposed to construct the probability density functions using a mixture of beta kernels. The framework outperforms benchmarks because it can validly capture the actual features of wind power probability density function such as main mass, boundaries, high skewness, and fat tails from the wind power sample moments. Also, using the proposed framework, a generic convex model is proposed for chance-constrained look-ahead economic dispatch problems. It allows power system operators to use piecewise linearization techniques to convert the problem to a mixed-integer linear programming problem. Numerical simulations using IEEE 118-bus test system show that compared with widely used sequential linear programming approaches, the proposed mixed-integer linear programming model leads to less system’s total cost. A framework based on the concept of bandwidth selection for a new and flexible kernel density estimator is proposed for construction of prediction intervals. Unlike previous related works, the proposed framework uses neither a cost function-based optimization problem nor point prediction results; rather, a diffusion-based kernel density estimator is utilized to achieve high-quality prediction intervals for non-stationary wind power time series. The proposed prediction interval construction framework is also founded based on a parallel computing procedure to promote the computational efficiency for practical applications in power systems. Simulation results demonstrate the high performance of the proposed framework compared to well-known conventional benchmarks such as bootstrap extreme learning machine, lower upper bound estimation, quantile regression, auto-regressive integrated moving average, and linear programming-based quantile regression. Finally, a new adjustable robust optimization approach is used to incorporate the constructed prediction intervals with the proposed fuzzy and adaptive diffusion estimator-based prediction interval construction framework. However, to accurately model the correlation and dependence structure of wind farms, especially in high dimensional cases, C-Vine copula models are used for prediction interval construction. The simulation results show that uncertainty modeling using C-Vine copula can lead the system operators to get more realistic sense about the level of overall uncertainty in the system, and consequently more conservative results for energy and reserve scheduling are obtained

Aplikasi sistem penuaian air hujan (SPAH) di kawasan perumahan

Pada masa kini, kekurangan sumber air bersih merupakan satu ancaman di kebanyakkan negara, dan tidak terkecuali Malaysia. Keadaan ini adalah disebabkan oleh kaedah penggunaan sumber air yang tidak berkesan serta kemusnahan kawasan tadahan air disebabkan oleh pembangunan pesat yang tidak mematuhi peraturan. Sebagai alternatif untuk mengatasi masalah ini, Sistem Penuaian Air Hujan (SPAH) telah diperkenalkan sebagai kaedah pengurusan terbaik dalam amalan pengurusan air yang berkesan di Malaysia. Sistem ini bertujuan untuk melambatkan aliran air larian permukaan dan untuk menggalakkan penggunaan air secara efisien. Kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk menentukan pelaksanaan Sistem Penuaian Air Hujan (SPAH), serta untuk menilai keberkesanan pelaksanaan Sistem Penuaian Air Hujan (SPAH). Hasil dapatan kajian ini adalah berdasarkan data yang dikumpul melalui siri-siri temubual yang dilaksanakan dengan enam orang responden iaitu Pemaju harta tanah, Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan, dan Kontraktor. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa tangki Penuaian Air Hujan yang sesuai untuk unit kediaman adalah dianggarkan bersaiz 200 gelen (50-60m3), dan jumlah kos pemasangan adalah RM 3000.00 seunit. Merujuk kepada keberkesanan pelaksanaan Sistem Penuaian Air Hujan (SPAH), majoriti responden berpuashati bahawa sistem yang digunakan memadai untuk mengawal masalah pembaziran gunaan air serta mampu menjimatkan penawaran air bersih. Diharapkan supaya dapatan kajian ini akan membantu untuk menyeimbangkan kegunaan air dan keperluan pembangunan air untuk generasi akan datang

Modified analytical approach for PV-DGs integration into radial distribution network considering loss sensitivity and voltage stability

Abstract: Achieving the goals of distribution systems operation often involves taking vital decisions with adequate consideration for several but often contradictory technical and economic criteria. Hence, this paper presents a modified analytical approach for optimal location and sizing of solar PV-based DG units into radial distribution network (RDN) considering strategic combination of important power system planning criteria. The considered criteria are total planning cost, active power loss and voltage stability, under credible distribution network operation constraints. The optimal DG placement approach is derived from the modification of the analytical approach for DG placement using line-loss sensitivity factor and the multiobjective constriction factor-based particle swarm optimization is adopted for optimal sizing. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is tested on the IEEE 33-bus system modeled using Matlab considering three scenarios. The results are compared with existing reports presented in the literature and the results obtained from the proposed approach shows credible improvement in the RDN steady-state operation performance for line-loss reduction, voltage profile improvement and voltage stability improvement

Applied Metaheuristic Computing

For decades, Applied Metaheuristic Computing (AMC) has been a prevailing optimization technique for tackling perplexing engineering and business problems, such as scheduling, routing, ordering, bin packing, assignment, facility layout planning, among others. This is partly because the classic exact methods are constrained with prior assumptions, and partly due to the heuristics being problem-dependent and lacking generalization. AMC, on the contrary, guides the course of low-level heuristics to search beyond the local optimality, which impairs the capability of traditional computation methods. This topic series has collected quality papers proposing cutting-edge methodology and innovative applications which drive the advances of AMC