Coupled Operating Rules for Optimal Operation of Multi-Reservoir Systems

Due to the complexity of multi-reservoir system operation problems, researchers usually prefer to assume lumped demands located downstream of such systems. Consequently, distributed local demands through the system are neglected or supplied completely (e.g. using Standard operating policy, SOP), in order to simplify the problem. In this study, Coupled Operating Rules (COR) as a simple and suitable operating policy is applied for optimal operation of multi-reservoir systems with local demands. The applied policy includes two types of linear rules, which are defined to determine total releases and local water allocations in decision points. This policy is adopted within a simulation-optimization approach to optimally operate a three-reservoir system in the Karkheh river basin. Obtained results indicate that the proposed strategy reduces the intensity of demand deficits and distributes the occurred shortages throughout the system properly. Moreover, the system losses are managed appropriately and big unbalanced local shortages are prevented. Although COR strategy decreases the reliability of local demands compared to SOP, it is a reasonable operating policy for systems with distributed local demand sites. Moreover, in this study an effective Improved Melody Search (IMeS) algorithm is proposed to achieve the optimum values of operating rules’ parameters. The efficiency of the optimization method is compared to the results achieved by other selected well-known heuristic search methods. Based on the experimental results, it is revealed that the proposed algorithm is more effective in finding precise solutions over a long-term period, comparing with the other conventional algorithms.     

Optimization of Multi-Reservoir Operating Rules for a Water Supply System

To obtain the optimal releases of the multi-reservoir system, two sets of joint operating rules (JOR-I and JOR-II) are presented based on the aggregation-disaggregation approach and multi-reservoir approach respectively. In JOR-I, all reservoirs are aggregated to an equivalent reservoir, the operating rules of which, the release rule of the system is optimized following operating rule curves coupled with hedging rules. Then the system release is disaggregated into each reservoir according to water supply priorities and the dynamic demand partition approach. In JOR-II, a two-stage demand partition approach is applied to allocate the different demand priorities to determine the release from each reservoir. To assess the reliability and effectiveness of the joint operating rules, the proposed rules are applied to a multi-reservoir system in Liaoning province of China. Results demonstrate that JOR-I is suitable for high-dimensional multi-reservoir operation problems with large-scale inflow data, while JOR-II is suitable for low-dimensional multi-reservoir operation problems with small-scale inflow data, and JOR-II performs better than JOR-I but requires more computation time. The research provides guidelines for the management of multi-reservoir system.     

Optimizing Multiple Linear Rules for Multi-Reservoir Hydropower Systems Using an Optimization Method with an Adaptation Strategy

Water Resources Management - Water resources crisis has a significant impact on hydropower energy production, which highlights the importance of water resources management. Reservoirs are effective...     

Deriving Optimal Operating Rules of a Multi-Reservoir System Considering Incremental Multi-Agent Benefit Allocation

Joint multi-reservoir operation is one of the most efficient measures to meet the demand for increasing economic benefits. Operating rules have been widely used in long-term reservoir operations. However, reservoirs belong to multiple agents in most cases, which imposes difficulties on benefit allocation. This motivated us to derive optimal operating rules for a multi-reservoir system, considering incremental benefit allocation among multiple agents. Fairness of incremental benefits for multiple agents is proposed as one of the objective functions, and then optimal joint operating rules with fairness are derived. The optimal joint operating rules with fairness are compared with conventional, optimal individual, and joint operating rules. The Three Gorges (Three Gorges and Gezhouba) and Qing River (Shuibuya, Geheyan and Gaobazhou) cascade reservoirs are selected for case study. The optimal joint operating rules with fairness not only encourage agents to participate in joint operation, but also increase average annual hydropower generation and the assurance rate of hydropower generation relative to those of the conventional operating rules. Furthermore, the proposed optimal operating rules with fairness are easier to implement in practice than the optimal joint rules. This indicates that the proposed method has potential for improving operating rules of a multi-reservoir system.     

Multi-Objective Optimization of the Proposed Multi-Reservoir Operating Policy Using Improved NSPSO

Severe water shortage is unacceptable for water-supply reservoir operation. For avoiding single periods of catastrophic water shortage, this paper proposes a multi-reservoir operating policy for water supply by combining parametric rule with hedging rule. In this method, the roles of parametric rule and hedging rule can be played at the same time, which are reducing the number of decision variables and adopting an active reduction of water supply during droughts in advance. In order to maintain the diversity of the non-dominated solutions for multi-objective optimization problem and make them get closer to the optimal trade-off surfaces, the multi-population mechanism is incorporated into the non-dominated sorting particle swarm optimization (NSPSO) algorithm in this study to develop an improved NSPSO algorithm (I-NSPSO). The performance of the I-NSPSO on two benchmark test functions shows that it has a good ability in finding the Pareto optimal set. The water-supply multi-reservoir system located at Taize River basin in China is employed as a case study to verify the effect of the proposed operating policy and the efficiency of the I-NSPSO. The operation results indicate that the proposed operating policy is suitable to handle the multi-reservoir operation problem, especially for the periods of droughts. And the I-NSPSO also shows a good performance in multi-objective optimization of the proposed operating policy.     

Multi-Reservoir Operation Planning Using Hybrid Genetic Algorithm and Linear Programming (GA-LP): An Alternative Stochastic Approach

Many models have been suggested to deal with the multi-reservoir operation planning stochastic optimization problem involving decisions on water releases from various reservoirs in different time periods of the year. A new approach using genetic algorithm (GA) and linear programming (LP) is proposed here to determine operational decisions for reservoirs of a hydro system throughout a planning period, with the possibility of considering a variety of equally likely hydrologic sequences representing inflows. This approach permits the evaluation of a reduced number of parameters by GA and operational variables by LP. The proposed algorithm is a stochastic approximation to the hydro system operation problem, with advantages such as simple implementation and the possibility of extracting useful parameters for future operational decisions. Implementation of the method is demonstrated through a small hypothetical hydrothermal system used in literature as an example for stochastic dual dynamic programming (SDDP) method of Pereira and Pinto (Pereira, M. V. F. and Pinto, L. M. V. G.: 1985, Water Res. Res. 21(6), 779–792). The proposed GA-LP approach performed equally well as compared to the SDDP method.     

Optimal Allocation of Flood Control Capacity for Multi-Reservoir Systems Using Multi-Objective Optimization Approach

Operation of multi-reservoir systems during flood periods is of great importance in the field of water resources management. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization model with new formulation for optimal operation of multi-reservoir systems. In this model, the release rate and the flood control capacity of each reservoir is considered as decision variable and the resulting nonlinear non-convex multi-objective optimization problem is solved with ε-constraint method through the mixed integer linear programming (MILP). Objective functions of the model are minimizing the flood damage at downstream sites and the loss of hydropower generation. The developed model is used to determine optimal operating strategies for Karkheh multi-reservoir system in southwestern Iran. For this purpose, the model is executed in two scenarios based on “two-reservoir” and “six-reservoir” systems and for floods with return periods of 25 and 50 years. The results show that in two-reservoir system, flood damage is at least about 114 million dollars and cannot be mitigated any further no matter how hydropower generation is managed. But, in the case of developing all six reservoirs, optimal strategies of coordinated operation can mitigate and even fully prevent flood damage.     

Operating Rules of an Irrigation Purposes Reservoir Using Multi-Objective Optimization

A multi-objective optimization technique for the operation of an irrigation reservoir is presented in this paper. The study deals with two different objective functions (OF): the minimization of reservoir release deficit from the irrigation demand (OF1) and the maximization of net benefit by the demand sector (OF2). In the first step, monthly optimization of each individual objective was performed with a deterministic non-linear programming (NLP) algorithm, that gave the lower and upper bounds for the multi-objective analysis. In the second step, multi-objective optimization was performed through the Constraint method that operates by optimising the objective function OF1, while the other (OF2) was constrained to satisfy release strategies generated by the optimization. Non-dominated set of release strategies is generated by parametrically varying the bounds of the constraints obtained from the individual optimal solutions. In the third step, the interactive analytical Step method was applied to find the best compromise solution, between the two OFs, by minimizing the distance of each non-dominated solution to an ideal solution that represents the utopian optimum for both OF1 and OF2. Furthermore, the interactive approach allows to improve the performance of the reservoir in terms of compromise irrigation releases, by changing the OF values until the satisfaction of predetermined criteria fixed by the planners and decision makers. The proposed water allocation model was applied to the Pozzillo reservoir operation, that supplies the Catania Plain irrigation area (Eastern Sicily).     

Single Reservoir Operating Policies Using Genetic Algorithm

To obtain optimal operating rules for storage reservoirs, large numbers of simulation and optimization models have been developed over the past several decades, which vary significantly in their mechanisms and applications. As every model has its own limitations, the selection of appropriate model for derivation of reservoir operating rule curves is difficult and most often there is a scope for further improvement as the model selection depends on data available. Hence, evaluation and modifications related to the reservoir operation remain classical. In the present study a Genetic Algorithm model has been developed and applied to Pechiparai reservoir in Tamil Nadu, India to derive the optimal operational strategies. The objective function is set to minimize the annual sum of squared deviation form desired irrigation release and desired storage volume. The decision variables are release for irrigation and other demands (industrial and municipal demands), from the reservoir. Since the rule curves are derived through random search it is found that the releases are same as that of demand requirements. Hence based on the present case study it is concluded that GA model could perform better if applied in real world operation of the reservoir.     

Deriving Hedging Rules of Multi-Reservoir System by Online Evolving Neural Networks

This paper presents an online optimization scheme for combined use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), hedging policies and harmony search algorithm (HS) in developing optimum operating policies for Tehran water resources system. Past efforts in this area are concentrated on using an offline approach. In that approach, an optimization method is first used to derive a long-term set of optimum reservoir releases. These releases are then used as the target vector for training the ANN model. The online method simultaneously uses the optimization and ANN methods and can adopt objective functions other than minimizing the error indices. Therefore, it requires methods other than the backpropagation for training the ANN model. Hence, under the proposed online approach the application of a heuristic method, such as HS, is inevitable for training the network. This is accomplished by using an optimization-simulation procedure where different objective functions and system constraints could be easily handled. The proposed approach is a novel and efficient method for finding the parameters of hedging policies where earlier methods suffered from high computational costs and the curse of dimensionality. The results show the superiority of the proposed online scheme. Moreover, a surrogate model for the hedging policy is presented, which by adhering to the principle of parsimony is more efficient in large scale systems involving many decision variables.     

Performance of the Equivalent Reservoir Modelling Technique for Multi-Reservoir Hydropower Systems

This paper investigates the validity of a simplified equivalent reservoir representation of a multi-reservoir hydroelectric system for modelling its optimal operation for power maximization. This simplification, proposed by Arvanitidis and Rosing (IEEE Trans Power Appar Syst 89(2):319–325, 1970), imputes a potential energy equivalent reservoir with energy inflows and outflows. The hydroelectric system is also modelled for power maximization considering individual reservoir characteristics without simplifications. Both optimization models employed MINOS package for solution of the non-linear programming problems. A comparison between total optimized power generation over the planning horizon by the two methods shows that the equivalent reservoir is capable of producing satisfactory power estimates with less than 6% underestimation. The generation and total reservoir storage trajectories along the planning horizon obtained by equivalent reservoir method, however, presented significant discrepancies as compared to those found in the detailed modelling. This study is motivated by the fact that Brazilian generation system operations are based on the equivalent reservoir method as part of the power dispatch procedures. The potential energy equivalent reservoir is an alternative which eliminates problems with the dimensionality of state variables in a dynamic programming model.     

Reducing Irrigation Deficiencies Based Optimizing Model for Multi-Reservoir Systems Utilizing Spider Monkey Algorithm

Continuous droughts and water scarcity have led to the need for optimal exploitation of dams’ reservoirs. Thus, the new meta-heuristic algorithm, spider monkey, is suggested for complex modeling of the multi-reservoir system in Iran with the aim of decreasing irrigation deficiencies. Golestan and Voshmgir dams’ operations are optimized with the spider monkey algorithm. The algorithm based on the exchange of information between local and global leaders with the other monkeys which improves the convergence speed. Average deficiencies for Golestan dam is computed as 2.1 and 1.9 MCM by spider monkey algorithm while it is respectively computed as 6.7, 16.4, 11.1, 4.1, 14.6, 19 MCM by particle swarm algorithm, harmony search algorithm, imperialist competitive algorithm, water cycle algorithm, genetic algorithm, and standards operation policy method. Also, the computation time of the spider monkey algorithm is 50 and 47 s for the Golestan and Voshmgir dams while the genetic algorithm optimizes the problem in 172.6 s and 112 s and the particle swarm algorithm needs 117.4 s and 100 s for the Golestan and Voshmgir, respectively. Also, root means square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error between demand and released water for the spider monkey algorithm have the least values among the applied evolutionary algorithms. Thus, the spider monkey algorithm is suggested as an appropriate method for optimizing the operation policy for the dam and reservoir systems.     

Deriving Reservoir Refill Operating Rules by Using the Proposed DPNS Model

The dynamic programming neural-network simplex (DPNS) model, which is aimed at making some improvements to the dynamic programming neural-network (DPN) model, is proposed and used to derive refill operating rules in reservoir planning and management. The DPNS model consists of three stages. First, the training data set (reservoir optimal sequences of releases) is searched by using the dynamic programming (DP) model to solve the deterministic refill operation problem. Second, with the training data set obtained, the artificial neural network (ANN) model representing the operating rules is trained through back-propagation (BP) algorithm. These two stages construct the standard DPN model. The third stage of DPNS is proposed to refine the operating rules through simulation-based optimization. By choosing maximum the hydropower generation as objective function, a nonlinear programming technique, Simplex method, is used to refine the final output of the DPN model. Both the DPNS and DPN models are used to derive operating rules for the real time refill operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) for the year of 2007. It is shown that the DPNS model can improve not only the probability of refill but also the mean hydropower generation when compare with that of the DPN model. It's recommended that the objective function of ANN approach for deriving refill operating rules should maximize the yield or minimize the loss, which can be computed from reservoir simulation during the refill period, rather than to fit the optimal data set as well as possible. And the derivation of optimal or near-optimal operating rules can be carried out effectively and efficiently using the proposed DPNS model.     

Hybrid Genetic Algorithm and Linear Programming Method for Least-Cost Design of Water Distribution Systems

The problems involved in the optimal design of water distribution networks belong to a class of large combinatorial optimization problems. Various heuristic and deterministic algorithms have been developed in the past two decades for solving optimization problems and applied to the design of water distribution systems. Nevertheless, there is still some uncertainty about finding a generally trustworthy method that can consistently find solutions which are really close to the global optimum of this problem. The paper proposes a combined genetic algorithm (GA) and linear programming (LP) method, named GALP for solving water distribution system design problems. It was investigated that the proposed method provides results that are more stable in terms of closeness to a global minimum. The main idea is that linear programming is more dependable than heuristic methods in finding the global optimum, but because it is suitable only for solving branched networks, the GA method is used in the proposed algorithm for decomposing a complex looped network into a group of branched networks. Linear programming is then applied for optimizing every branch network produced by GA from the original looped network. The proposed method was tested on three benchmark least-cost design problems and compared with other methods; the results suggest that the GALP consistently provides better solutions. The method is intended for use in the design and rehabilitation of drinking water systems and pressurized irrigation systems as well.     

Extracting Optimal Policies of Hydropower Multi-Reservoir Systems Utilizing Enhanced Differential Evolution Algorithm

Deriving the optimal policies of hydropower multi-reservoir systems is a nonlinear and high-dimensional problem which makes it difficult to achieve the global or near global optimal solution. In order to optimally solve the problem effectively, development of optimization methods with the purpose of optimizing reservoir operation is indispensable as well as inevitable. This paper introduces an enhanced differential evolution (EDE) algorithm to enhance the exploration and exploitation abilities of the original differential evolution (DE) algorithm. The EDE algorithm is first applied to minimize two benchmark functions (Ackley and Shifted Schwefel). In addition, a real world two-reservoir hydropower optimization problem and a large scale benchmark problem, namely ten-reservoir problem, were considered to indicate the effectiveness of the EDE. The performance of the EDE was compared with the original DE to solve the three optimization problems. The results demonstrate that the EDE would have a powerful global ability and faster convergence than the original DE to solve the two benchmark functions. In the 10-reservoir optimization problem, the EDE proved to be much more functional to reach optimal or near optimal solution and to be effective in terms of convergence rate, standard deviation, the best, average and worst values of objective function than the original DE. Also, In the case of two-reservoir system, the best values of the objective function obtained 93.86 and 101.09 for EDE and DE respectively. Based on the results, it can be stated that the most important reason to improve the performance of the EDE algorithm is the promotion of local and global search abilities of the DE algorithm using the number of novel operators. Also, the results of these three problems corroborated the superior performance, the high efficiency and robustness of the EDE to optimize complex and large scale multi-reservoir operation problems.     

Multi-Objective Planning for Conjunctive Use of Surface and Ground Water Resources Using Genetic Programming

Water Resources Management - In arid and semi-arid regions, climate change causes a drastic decline in the volume of water resources as water demands increase. Thus, the present study is aimed at...     

Multi-Objective Operating Rules for Danjiangkou Reservoir Under Climate Change

The natural variations of climatic system, as well as the potential influence of human activity on global warming, have changed the hydrologic cycle and threatened current water resources management. And the conflicts between different objectives in reservoir operation may become more and more challenging because of the impact of climate change. This study aims at deriving multi-objective operating rules to adapt to climate change and alleviate the conflicts. By combining the reservoir operation function and operating rule curves, an adaptive multi-objective operation model was proposed and developed. The optimal operating rules derived both by dynamic programming and NSGA-II method were compared and discussed. The projection pursuit method was used to select the best operating rules. The results demonstrate that the reservoir operating rules obtained by NSGA-II can increase the power generation and water supply yield and reliability, and the rules focusing on water supply can significantly increase the reservoir annual water supply yield (by 18.7 %). It is shown that the proposed model would be effective in reservoir operation under climate change.     

A Recursive Approach to Long-Term Prediction of Monthly Precipitation Using Genetic Programming

Water Resources Management - Precipitation is regarded as the basic component of the global hydrological cycle. This study develops a recursive approach to long-term prediction of monthly...     

A Neural Networks Approach for Deriving Irrigation Reservoir Operating Rules

A neural networks approach is applied to the derivation of the operating rules of an irrigation supply reservoir. Operating rules are determined as a two step process: first, a dynamic programming technique, which determines the optimal releases byminimizing the sum of squared deficits, assumed as objective function, subject to various constraints is applied. Then, theresulting releases from the reservoir are expressed as a functionof significant variables by neural networks. Neural networks aretrained on a long period, including severe drought events, andthe operation rules so determined are validated on a differentshorter period. The behaviour of different operating rules is assessed by simulating reservoir operation and by computing several performance indices of the reservoir and crop yield through a soil water balance model. Results show that operating rules based on an optimization with constraints resembling real system operation criteria lead to a good performance both in normal and in drought periods, reducing maximum deficits and water spills.     

Generation of Clean Hydropower Energy in Multi-Reservoir Systems Based on a New Evolutionary Algorithm

Lingering droughts and shortage of water sources signify the importance of optimal utilization of water reservoirs such as multi-reservoir systems. These systems could be employed not only as a storage system to manage the water utilization but also as a power generation system. To rise the generated power besides the management of water utilization, an optimization algorithm should be used. In this study, the kidney algorithm in three different scenarios, namely the wet, normal, and dry years is employed to fulfill such an engineering operation in a four-reservoir system in China. Simulations show well compatibility of the water level inside the reservoir with real statistical indices in terms of RMSE and MAE. Results also reveal that using the kidney algorithm not only reduces the required calculation but also increases the convergence pace with respect to other algorithms that have been used (bat, shark, abundance of particles, and genetic algorithms). Moreover, it increases the amount of the generated energy by a factor of 2.2–3.2 with respect to the aforementioned algorithms. Results indicate the capability of the kidney algorithm in the management of water sources and engineering operations.