Solving a Classical Optimization ProblemUsing GAMS Optimizer Package: Economic Dispatch ProblemImplementation

Abstract

This paper presents an effectiveness strategy to model and solve nonlinearmathematical optimization problems in electrical engineering using Gene-ral Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) for undergraduate students. Aclassical problem known as economic dispatch has been selected to showthe need of using mathematical tools to solve a large scale optimizationproblem related with engineering. The economic dispatch is a classical op-timization problem in operation of thermal electric systems, being the mainidea to find an economical operation for thermal generators. This opera-tion is based on a quadratic cost curve with some operating constraints,i.e., power balance and generation capacities. A numerical simulation isimplemented using GAMS optimization package in demo version. Thisresearch has been developed with the support of 36 students of the courseof Regulation and Operation of Electrical Systems (ROES) in the programof Electrical Engineering at Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP).