Unit commitment considering dual-mode combined heat and power generating units using integrated optimization technique

In this work, we have undertaken a dual-mode combined heat and power unit commitment model to address the optimum generation scheduling of the committed unit. The model formulation includes the backpressure and an extraction mode of cogeneration unit, which is having a diverse feasible operating region of operation. In backpressure mode, the energy generated from the combined heat and power unit depends on a fixed ratio of power and heat, while in extraction mode, this ratio is relatively relaxed that provides system flexibility as compared to other. Owing to the dynamic features of different generating units as well as combination of binary and continuous decision variables, the problem becomes mixed-integer nondeterministic polynomial hard optimization problem, hence an integrated optimization technique has been applied. The integrated optimization technique is a combination of binary successive approximation technique and civilized swarm optimization technique. The binary successive approximation as a local search technique is used to update the unit status, iteratively and global search technique 'civilized swarm optimization' are applied to search optimal generation schedule from the committed units. In order to measure the impact of a dual-mode combined heat and power unit on optimum generation scheduling and system flexibility, four test systems have been undertaken. It has been observed from results that total operating cost of the system during extraction mode of combined heat and power unit is less as compared to backpressure mode. It is also evident from the results, that system provides diverse flexibility in terms of power and heat capability, during the extraction and backpressure mode of operation.