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Week 2 Optimization Problem Formulation

The document discusses the importance of problem formulation in energy systems optimization, emphasizing that a poor formulation cannot be remedied by a better solver. It outlines core elements of an optimization problem, including decision variables, objective functions, and constraints, while highlighting the significance of feasibility in finding optimal solutions. A case study on a grid-connected microgrid illustrates the application of these concepts, focusing on minimizing electricity costs while adhering to various constraints.

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7 views24 pages

Week 2 Optimization Problem Formulation

The document discusses the importance of problem formulation in energy systems optimization, emphasizing that a poor formulation cannot be remedied by a better solver. It outlines core elements of an optimization problem, including decision variables, objective functions, and constraints, while highlighting the significance of feasibility in finding optimal solutions. A case study on a grid-connected microgrid illustrates the application of these concepts, focusing on minimizing electricity costs while adhering to various constraints.

Uploaded by

procomputer32
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Week 2 – Optimization

Problem Formulation
Energy Systems Optimization
Why Problem Formulation Matters

• Choosing the solver is NOT the most important step


• Optimization problems are engineering models
• Poor formulation cannot be fixed by a better solver
Core Elements of an Optimization Problem

• Decision Variables – what we can control


• Objective Function – what we want to optimize
• Constraints – what must always be satisfied
• Parameters – known system data
Decision Variables in Energy Systems

• Generator power output


• Battery charging / discharging power
• Grid power exchange
• Energy storage state of charge (SOC)
• …
Objective Functions

• Minimize operating cost


• Minimize emissions
• Maximize renewable energy usage
• …

May need to handle trade-offs between conflicting objectives


Constraints in Energy Systems

• Power balance constraints


• Capacity and operational limits
• Energy storage limits
• Regulatory or market constraints
• ….
Constraints: Feasibility

• Feasibility in optimization refers to whether a


solution satisfies all constraints of the problem.

• A feasible solution may not be optimal, but an


optimal solution must always be feasible.

• The feasible region is the set of all decision


variable values that satisfy all constraints of an
optimization problem.
Constraints: Feasible Set

• -2x+3y ≤ 6
• x+y ≤ 2
• x ≥ -3
• y ≥ -1
Constraints: Feasible Set

• -2x+3y ≤ 6
• x+y ≤ 2
• x ≥ -3
• y ≥ -1
Optimization vs Simulation

Simulation answers: What happens?

Optimization answers: What should I do?


Core Case Study: Grid-Connected Microgrid

• Electrical load
• PV generation
• Battery energy storage system
• Connection to the main grid
Microgrid Decision Variables

• Grid power exchange Pgrid(t)


• PV generation Ppv(t)
• Battery power Pbat(t)
• Battery state of charge SOC(t)
Objective Function for the Microgrid

• Minimize total electricity cost


• Time-varying electricity prices
• Buying and selling power from the grid
Key Constraints for the Microgrid

• Power balance at every time step


• PV availability limits
• Battery power limits
• Battery SOC dynamics and limits
Modeling Assumptions (for now)

• Linear cost functions


• Ideal battery efficiency
• No on/off decisions
• Continuous decision variables
Time Horizon
Decision Variables
Objective Function
Constraints
Constraints

Assuming ideal efficiency for now.


Example
Problem Classification

Linear objective + linear constraints + continuous variables

This is a Linear Programming (LP) problem


Key Takeaways

Optimization is primarily a modeling task.

Physical interpretation of constraints is essential.

Models should be built incrementally.

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