This paper presents a new solution to the thermal unit-commitment (UC) problem based on an integer-coded genetic algorithm (GA). The GA chromosome consists of a sequence of alternating sign integer numbers representing the sequence of operation/reservation times of the generating units. The proposed coding achieves significant chromosome size reduction compared to the usual binary coding. As a result, algorithm robustness and execution time are improved. In addition, generating unit minimum up and minimum downtime constraints are directly coded in the chromosome, thus avoiding the use of many penalty functions that usually distort the search space. Test results with systems of up to 100 units and 24-h scheduling horizon are presented.

No abstract

No abstract

Abstract-A genetic algorithm (GA) solution to the networkconstrained economic dispatch problem is presented. A real-coded GA has been implemented to minimize the dispatch cost while satisfying generating unit and branch power-flow limits. A binarycoded GA was also developed to provide a means of comparison. GA solutions do not impose any convexity restrictions on the dispatch problem. The proposed method was applied on the electrical grid of Crete Island with satisfactory results. Various tests with convex and nonconvex unit cost functions demonstrate that the proposed GA locates the optimum solution, while it is more efficient than the binary-coded GA.Index Terms-Economic dispatch, genetic algorithm (GA).

No abstract