Book Description

Unit Commitment (UC) is a nonlinear, non-convex, large scale, mixed integer problem. UC is the problem of finding the optimal number of generators which are to be turned on and off according to the time varying load demand so that the solution is a global optimal economically. Further, the solution should also satisfy the standard UC constraints such as spinning reserves, minimum Up and Down time of units, ramp rate limits etc,. In the present day power scenario, under the deregulation environment the problem of generation scheduling is highly complex because of the increase in the number of generators, type and size of generating facilities, and also due to time varying load demands. Further, from the solution of optimal schedule obtained for the UC problem, a dispatch strategy should be found among the committed generators which should give a minimum fuel cost. This problem is known as Economic Load Dispatch (ELD). As a result the focus today for the power system engineers is to find a global optimization strategy which can solve the problem of UC and ELD in most economical and reliable manner.