ALLOCATE - Optimal Unit Allocation Software

Unit allocation / commitment

Unit allocation / commitment is the process of deciding when and which generating units at each power station to start-up and shut-down. This process is very complicated when 2 or more generating units are considered due to the fact that the number of combinations increases exponentially with the number of available generating units. To solve this problem in efficient way mathematical model and computer program is required.

Allocate is a computer program that can be used to very efficiently solve the above problem. Using a mathematical model and specific numerical techniques Allocate provide an optimal or best-fit solution to the unit allocation / commitment problem. The use of the program can result in significant improvements to daily energy production or revenues. Allocate is an optimization program because it is based on mathematical formulation of the unit allocation / commitment problem and provides an optimal solution depending on the selected objective function taking into account numerous constraints.

Allocate is based on Dynamic Programming

Allocate uses dynamic programming (DP) to solve optimization problem which can be  defined as sequential decision processes. DP is not restricted by any requirement of linearity, convexity or even continuity, making it specially suitable for this kind of problems. The feasible numerical space is divided in a number of discretization points. The algorithm evaluates the objective function for each point and selects the best possible combination of load for each generating unit that maximize the objective function (total hydropower station output) or minimize the objective function (total amount of water released to produce fixed amount of hydropower station power) for a given reservoir level.

In order to improve the accuracy of the model results a two step seamless process is adopted. The first step produces a near optimal solution. In the second step the previous operating policy is further refined, until the optimal one that maximizes / minimizes the objective function, is obtained.

Allocate options and constraints