“…PED is non-convex in nature because of Valve Point Loading Effects (VPLEs), Multiple Fuel Options (MFOs), and Prohibited Operating Zones (POZs) [1]. However, most of the time it is addressed as a convex optimization problem solved by conventional techniques; e.g., equal incremental cost criterion, gradient search method [2], Newton's Method (NM), Lambda Iteration Method (LIM), Lagrange Relaxation (LR) [3], Dynamic Programming (DP) [4], and Quadratic Programming (QP) [5], etc. In such techniques, a simple quadratic function represents the machine curve that ignores the practical constraints; e.g., MFOs, POZs, and VPEs.…”