Solving a Classical Optimization Problem Using GAMS Optimizer Package: Economic Dispatch Problem Implementation

Abstract

espanolEn este articulo se presenta una estrategia para modelar y resolver problemas no lineales de optimizacion con estudiantes de pregrado en ingenieria electrica empleando el Sistema de Modelado Algebraico General (GAMS). El problema clasico conocido como despacho economico ha sido seleccionado para mostrar la necesidad de usar herramientas matematicas para resolver problemas de gran tamano relacionados con ingenieria. El despacho economico es un problema clasico de optimizacion en operacion de sistemas termoelectricos, cuya idea principal es encontrar la operacion mas economica para los generadores termicos. Esta operacion esta basada en una curva cuadratica de costos con algunas restricciones operativas, como por ejemplo, balance de potencia y capacidades de generacion. La simulacion numerica es implementada en GAMS usando una version de prueba. Esta investigacion ha sido desarrollada con la ayuda de 36 estudiantes del curso de Regulacion y Operacion de Sistemas Electricos (ROES) del programa de Ingenieria Electrica de la Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira (UTP). EnglishThis paper presents an effectiveness strategy to model and solve nonlinear mathematical optimization problems in electrical engineering using General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) for undergraduate students. A classical problem known as economic dispatch has been selected to show the need of using mathematical tools to solve a large scale optimization problem related with engineering. The economic dispatch is a classical optimization problem in operation of thermal electric systems, being the main idea to find an economical operation for thermal generators. This operation is based on a quadratic cost curve with some operating constraints, i.e., power balance and generation capacities. A numerical simulation is implemented using GAMS optimization package in demo version. This research has been developed with the support of 36 students of the course of Regulation and Operation of Electrical Systems (ROES) in the programof Electrical Engineering at Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira (UTP).