Otimização da operação de centrais hidrelétricas pela distribuição inteligente de carga entre máquina

Abstract

This dissertation of Master's degree has as main objective to develop an intelligent method of load distribution among machines (generating groups) of hydroelectric power plants in way to maximize the global efficiency of the transformation of the potential energy stored in the reservoirs of water in electric power. The optimization of the hydroelectric plants operation does with that an economy of fuel exists, in this case the stored water, for the rational use of the available energy, with great interest nowadays. The efficiency optimization can be accomplished through direct measures of efficiency, flow in the turbines entrance or penstock absolute pressure. In this work, the developed optimization algorithm uses direct measures of efficiency and power generated by each machine. The search is guided by the “Steepest Ascent Hill Climbing” heuristic and it presents the advantage of being executed in real time, where there is not the need of the curves of machines efficiency, could also be used in conventional optimizations (linear or nonlinear), which are accomplished through models of the system. The optimization is accomplished in a hypothetical hydroelectric plant, with ten machines, for a great variety of demanded power, through simulations accomplished by the developed algorithm. The efficiency values informed by the search are compared with the values found by LINGO software. The algorithm was developed in MATLAB, being presented in the end of the work for using, changes and/or improvements.