Large-scale combined heat and power economic dispatch using a novel multi-player harmony search method

Abstract

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants have the capability of supplying power and heat energy altogether. The major aim of CHP economic dispatch (CHPED) is determining optimal generation management of cogeneration plants with a minimum operational cost of providing power and heat load demands. Several electrical and operational constraints should be studied in solving the CHPED problem, which includes valve-point influences of traditional thermal production units, the production capacity of cogeneration units and load balance. In addition, heat and power generated of CHP plants have a bidirectional association, which is known as a feasible operating zone, that makes the CHPED problem more complex. In this study, a novel multi-player harmony search (MPHS) method is introduced for solving the non-convex non-linear large-scale CHPED challenge in the power system. The presented MPHS algorithm in this study is based on utilizing experiences of multi-players for harmony improvisation during the optimization process of the problem. The presented MPHS algorithm is employed on a 24-unit test system and an 84-unit case study as a large-scale system to evaluate the efficiency of the presented MPHS method. The large-scale 84-unit system includes 40 thermal plants, 24 CHP units, and 20 boilers. The determined optimal solutions are compared with the literature to confirm the performance of the presented MPHS algorithm.