COMPUTER-AIDED OPTIMIZATION IN OPERATION PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PLANTS – ALGORITHMS AND EXAMPLES
N. Milivojević, D. Divac, D. Vukosavić, D. Vučković, V. Milivojević
Abstract
Due to complex relations present in hydropower markets, and having in mind the specific role
of hydropower in common electricity generation and transmission grid systems, it is impossible
to identify a unified approach to hydropower plant management. The ever-changing market
behavior also presents a problem for unification of methodologies and all this imposes the
interpretation of hydropower plant management as a dynamic set of rules that are adaptable to
system complexity and market needs. Based on simulation models of water flow and
hydropower generation, along with optimization techniques employing genetic algorithms
controlled by fuzzy-logic, an approach is proposed for determination of rules for operation
planning of hydropower plants.
This paper presents the approach to hydropower potential estimation and operational
management applied to simulation of the hydropower plants “Iron Gates 1” and “Iron Gates 2”,
located on River Danube and shared by Serbia and Romania, using computer-aided
optimization. The objective of the computer-aided optimization management system is to
ensure efficient utilization of the Danube’s hydropower potential, to address the demand of
Serbian and Romanian electricity generation and transmission systems (that differ in terms of
power and time) and to comply with a number of constraints, which are defined in bilateral
agreements. In this paper it has been proven possible, unlike to the case of the old uncoupled
model, to simulate the operation of the integrated system of cascaded power plants, with
concurrent simulation of both hydraulic and electrical processes. The system is expected to
provide daily management support and is a mean by which the outcomes of operational
planning within different hydrologic, economic, legal and other frameworks can be assessed,
and to attain conditions for optimum water resource management and the resolution of existing
and potential conflicts in the region, with regard to any conflict of stakeholder interests.
