Optimal planning of short-term modes of hydrothermal power systems by genetic algorithm

The article proposes a genetic algorithm for optimization of short-term modes of power systems that include thermal and hydroelectric power plants (TPPs and HPPs), taking into account all simple, functional and integral constraints in the form of equalities and inequalities. In it, the constraints on the power balance in power system for each time interval of the considered planning period are taken into account by the allocation of a balancing power plant. Constraints on the minimum and maximum possible loads of the balancing power plant, as well as functional constraints, which in general cases have non-linear nature, are taken into account by penalty functions in exponential form. The constraints on water consumption in HPPs for the period under consideration are taken into account by quadratic penalty functions. The computational qualities of the proposed algorithm are researched on the example of optimal coverage of the load schedule of power system containing several TPPs and HPPs that are involved in optimization. The research results showed that the proposed algorithm is highly efficient.