ECONOMIC OPERATION OF POWER SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION
One of the earliest applications of on-line centralized control was to provide a central
facility, to operate economically, several generating plants supplying the loads of the
system. Modern integrated systems have different types of generating plants, such as coal
fired thermal plants, hydel plants, nuclear plants, oil and natural gas units etc. The capital
investment, operation and maintenance costs are different for different types of plants.
The operation economics can again be subdivided into two parts.
i)

Problem of economic dispatch, which deals with determining the power

output of each plant to meet the specified load, such that the overall fuel cost
is minimized.

ii)

Problem of optimal power flow, which deals with minimum loss delivery,
where in the power flow, is optimized to minimize losses in the system. In
this chapter we consider the problem of economic dispatch.

During operation of the plant, a generator may be in one of the following states:
i)

Base supply without regulation: the output is a constant.

ii)

Base supply with regulation: output power is regulated based on system load.

iii)

Automatic non-economic regulation: output level changes around a base

setting as area control error changes.

iv)

Automatic economic regulation: output level is adjusted, with the area load
and area control error, while tracking an economic setting.

Regardless of the units operating state, it has a contribution to the economic operation,
even though its output is changed for different reasons. The factors influencing the cost
of generation are the generator efficiency, fuel cost and transmission losses. The most
efficient generator may not give minimum cost, since it may be located in a place where
fuel cost is high. Further, if the plant is located far from the load centers, transmission
losses may be high and running the plant may become uneconomical. The economic
dispatch problem basically determines the generation of different plants to minimize total
operating cost.

Modern generating plants like nuclear plants, geo-thermal plants etc, may require capital
investment of millions of rupees. The economic dispatch is however determined in terms
of fuel cost per unit power generated and does not include capital investment,
maintenance, depreciation, start-up and shut down costs etc.

PERFORMANCE CURVES
INPUT-OUTPUT CURVE
This is the fundamental curve for a thermal plant and is a plot of the input in British
thermal units (Btu) per hour versus the power output of the plant in MW as shown in Fig

Btu / hr (Input)

1.

(output) MW

Fig 1: Input output curve

HEAT RATE CURVE

The heat rate is the ratio of fuel input in Btu to energy output in KWh. It is the slope of
the input output curve at any point. The reciprocal of heat rate is called fuel
efficiency. The heat rate curve is a plot of heat rate versus output in MW. A typical plot

(Heat rate) Btu / kw-hr

is shown in Fig .2

(output) MW

Fig .2 Heat rate curve.

INCREMENTAL FUEL RATE CURVE
The incremental fuel rate is equal to a small change in input divided by the
corresponding change in output.
Incremental fuel rate =

Input
Output

The unit is again Btu / KWh. A plot of incremental fuel rate versus the output is shown in

Incremental fuel rate

Fig 3

(output) MW

Fig 3: Incremental fuel rate curve

Incremental cost curve

The incremental cost is the product of incremental fuel rate and fuel cost (Rs / Btu or $ /
Btu). The curve in shown in Fig. 4. The unit of the incremental fuel cost is Rs / MWh or
$ /MWh.

approximate linear cost

Rs / Mwhr

actual cost

(output) MW

Fig 4: Incremental cost curve

In general, the fuel cost Fi for a plant, is approximated as a quadratic function of the
generated output PGi.
Fi = ai + bi PGi + ci PGi2 Rs / h
The incremental fuel cost is given by

dFi
= bi + 2ci PGi
dPGi

Rs / MWh

The incremental fuel cost is a measure of how costly it will be produce an increment of
power. The incremental production cost, is made up of incremental fuel cost plus the
incremental cost of labour, water, maintenance etc. which can be taken to be some
percentage of the incremental fuel cost, instead of resorting to a rigorous mathematical
model. The cost curve can be approximated by a linear curve. While there is negligible
operating cost for a hydel plant, there is a limitation on the power output possible. In any
plant, all units normally operate between PGmin, the minimum loading limit, below which
it is technically infeasible to operate a unit and PGmax, which is the maximum output
limit.

ECONOMIC GENERATION SCHEDULING

LOSSES AND GENERATOR LIMITS

NEGLECTING

The simplest case of economic dispatch is the case when transmission losses are
neglected. The model does not consider the system configuration or line impedances.
Since losses are neglected, the total generation is equal to the total demand PD.

Consider a system with ng number of generating plants supplying the total

demand PD. If Fi is the cost of plant i in Rs/h, the mathematical formulation of the
problem of economic scheduling can be stated as follows:
ng

Minimize

FT =

F
i 1

ng

Such that

i 1

where

Gi

PD

FT = total cost.
PGi = generation of plant i.
PD = total demand.

This is a constrained optimization problem, which can be solved by Lagranges method.

LAGRANGE METHOD FOR SOLUTION OF ECONOMIC SCHEDULE

The problem is restated below:

ng

Minimize

Such that

FT Fi
i 1

PD

ng

Gi

i 1

The augmented cost function is given by

ng

FT PD PGi
i 1

The minimum is obtained when

0
0 and

PGi

T 0
PGi PGi
g

PD PGi 0

i 1

The second equation is simply the original constraint of the problem. The cost of a plant
Fi depends only on its own output PGi, hence

Fi
dFi
FT

PGi PGi dPGi

Using the above,

Fi
dFi

;
PGi dPGi

i = 1. ng

bi + 2ci PGi =

i = 1. ng

We can write

The above equation is called the co-ordination equation. Simply stated, for economic
generation scheduling to meet a particular load demand, when transmission losses are
neglected and generation limits are not imposed, all plants must operate at equal
incremental production costs, subject to the constraint that the total generation be equal
to the demand. From we have

PGi

bi
2c i

We know in a loss less system

ng

PD

Gi

i 1

Substituting (8.16) we get

ng

i 1

bi
PD
2ci

An analytical solution of is obtained from (8.17) as

n

PD

i1

i1

bi
2ci

1
2ci

It can be seen that is dependent on the demand and the coefficients of the cost function.
Example 1.
The fuel costs of two units are given by

F1 = 1.5 + 20 PG1 + 0.1 PG12 Rs/h

F2 = 1.9 + 30 PG2 + 0.1 PG22 Rs/h
PG1, PG2 are in MW. Find the optimal schedule neglecting losses, when the demand is
200 MW.

Solution:

dF1
20 0.2 PG1
dPG1

Rs / MWh

dF2
30 0.2 PG 2
dPG 2

Rs / MWh

PD PG1 PG 2 200 MW
For economic schedule

dF1
dF2

dPG1 dPG 2
20 + 0.2 PG1 = 30 + 0.2 (200 - PG1)
Solving we get,

PG1 = 125 MW
PG2 = 75 MW
= 20 + 0.2 (125) = 45 Rs / MWh

Example 2
The fuel cost in $ / h for two 800 MW plants is given by
F1 = 400 + 6.0 PG1 + 0.004 PG12
F2 = 500 + b2 PG2 + c2 PG22
where PG1, PG2 are in MW
(a) The incremental cost of power, is $8 / MWh when total demand is 550MW.
Determine optimal generation schedule neglecting losses.
(b) The incremental cost of power is $10/MWh when total demand is 1300 MW.
Determine optimal schedule neglecting losses.
(c) From (a) and (b) find the coefficients b2 and c2.
Solution:
a)

PG1

b1 8.0 6.0

250 MW
2c1
2 0.004

PG 2 PD PG1 550 250 300 MW

b)

PG1

b1
10 6

500 MW
2C1
2 0.004

PG 2 PD PG1 1300 500 800 MW

c)

PG 2

b2
2c 2

From (a)
From (b)
Solving we get

8.0 b2
2c 2
10.0 b2
800
2c 2
300

b2 = 6.8
c2 = 0.002

ECONOMIC SCHEDULE INCLUDING LIMITS ON GENERATOR

(NEGLECTING LOSSES)
The power output of any generator has a maximum value dependent on the rating of the
generator. It also has a minimum limit set by stable boiler operation. The economic
dispatch problem now is to schedule generation to minimize cost, subject to the equality
constraint.
ng

P
i 1

Gi

PD

and the inequality constraint

PGi (min) PGi PGi (max) ; i = 1, ng
The procedure followed is same as before i.e. the plants are operated with equal
incremental fuel costs, till their limits are not violated. As soon as a plant reaches the
limit (maximum or minimum) its output is fixed at that point and is maintained a
constant. The other plants are operated at equal incremental costs.
Example 3
Incremental fuel costs in $ / MWh for two units are given below:

dF1
0.01PG1 2.0 $ / MWh
dPG1

dF2
0.012 PG 2 1.6 $ / MWh
dPG 2
The limits on the plants are Pmin = 20 MW, Pmax = 125 MW. Obtain the optimal schedule
if the load varies from 50 250 MW.
Solution:
The incremental fuel costs of the two plants are evaluated at their lower limits and upper
limits of generation.
At PG (min) = 20 MW.

1(min)
2 (min)

dF1
= 0.01x 20+2.0 = 2.2$ / MWh
dPG1
dF2
= 0.012 x 20 + 1.6 = 1.84 $ / MWh
dPG 2

At PG (Max) =125 Mw
1(max) = 0.01 x 125 + 2.0 = 3.25 $ / MWh
2(max) = 0.012 x 125 + 1.6 = 3.1 $ / MWh
Now at light loads unit 1 has a higher incremental cost and hence will operate at its lower
limit of 20 MW. Initially, additional load is taken up by unit 2, till such time its
incremental fuel cost becomes equal to 2.2$ / MWh at PG2 = 50 MW. Beyond this, the
two units are operated with equal incremental fuel costs. The contribution of each unit to
meet the demand is obtained by assuming different values of ; When = 3.1 $ / MWh,
unit 2 operates at its upper limit. Further loads are taken up by unit 1. The computations
are show in Table
Table Plant output and output of the two units

dF1
dPG1

dF2
dPG 2

$/MWh
2.2

$/MWh
1.96

Plant

PG1

PG2

$/MWh

MW

MW

1.96

Plant Output
MW

20+

30

50

50

70

2.2

2.2

2.2

20

2.4

2.4

2.4

40

66.7

106.7

2.6

2.6

2.6

60

83.3

143.3

2.8

2.8

2.8

80

100

180

3.0

3.0

3.0

100

116.7

216.7

3.1

3.1

3.1

110

125*

235

3.25

3.1

3.25

125*

125*

250

For a particular value of , PG1 and PG2 are calculated using (8.16). Fig 8.5 Shows plot of
each unit output versus the total plant output.

For any particular load, the schedule for each unit for economic dispatch can be obtained
.

Example 4.
In example 3, what is the saving in fuel cost for the economic schedule compared to the
case where the load is shared equally. The load is 180 MW.
Solution:
From Table it is seen that for a load of 180 MW, the economic schedule is P G1 = 80 MW
and PG2 = 100 MW. When load is shared equally PG1 = PG2 = 90 MW. Hence, the
generation of unit 1 increases from 80 MW to 90 MW and that of unit 2 decreases from
100 MW to 90 MW, when the load is shared equally. There is an increase in cost of unit
1 since PG1 increases and decrease in cost of unit 2 since PG2 decreases.

10

 dF1
80 dPG1 dPG1
90

Increase in cost of unit 1

=
90

0.01P

2.0 dPG1 28.5 $ / h

G1

80

dF 2
dPG 2
G2
100
90

Decrease in cost of unit 2

dP

=
90

0.012 P

G2

1.6 dPG 2 27.4 $ / h

100

Total increase in cost if load is shared equally = 28.5 27.4 = 1.1 $ / h

Hence the saving in fuel cost is 1.1 $ / h if coordinated economic schedule is used.

ECONOMIC DISPATCH INCLUDING TRANSMISSION LOSSES

When transmission distances are large, the transmission losses are a significant part of
the generation and have to be considered in the generation schedule for economic
operation. The mathematical formulation is now stated as
ng

Minimize

FT Fi
i 1

ng

Such That

P
i 1

Gi

PD PL

where PL is the total loss.

The Lagrange function is now written as
ng

= FT PGi PD PL 0
i 1

The minimum point is obtained when

F
P

T 1 L
PGi PGi
PGi

0 ; i = 1ng

PGi PD PL 0
i 1

Since

(Same as the constraint)

dFi
FT
, (8.27) can be written as

PGi dPGi
dFi
P
L
dPGi
PGi

11

dFi 1

dPGi 1 PL

PGi

The term

1
is called the penalty factor of plant i, Li. The coordination
PL
1
P Gi

equations including losses are given by

dFi
L i ; i = 1.ng
dPGi

The minimum operation cost is obtained when the product of the incremental fuel cost
and the penalty factor of all units is the same, when losses are considered.

A rigorous general expression for the loss PL is given by

PL = m n PGm Bmn PGn + n PGn Bno + Boo

where Bmn, Bno , Boo called loss coefficients , depend on the load composition. The
assumption here is that the load varies linearly between maximum and minimum values.
A simpler expression is
PL = m n PGm Bmn PGn

The expression assumes that all load currents vary together as a constant complex
fraction of the total load current. Experiences with large systems has shown that the loss
of accuracy is not significant if this approximation is used.
An average set of loss coefficients may be used over the complete daily cycle in the
coordination of incremental production costs and incremental transmission losses. In
general, Bmn = Bnm and can be expanded for a two plant system as
PL = B11 PG1 + 2 B12 PG1 PG2 + B22 PG22

12

Example 5
A generator is supplying a load. An incremental change in load of 4 MW requires
generation to be increased by 6 MW. The incremental cost at the plant bus is Rs 30 /
MWh. What is the incremental cost at the receiving end?
Solution:

dF1
= 30
dP G1

dF1
30
dPG1

PL = 2MW

Load

G
PD = 4MW

PG = 6MW

Fig ; One line diagram of example 5

PL = PG

- PD = 2 MW

at receiving end is given by

dF1 PG
6

30 45 Rs / MWh
dPG1 PD
4

or

dF1

dPG1

1
1
30
45 Rs / MWh
PL
2
1
1
6
PG

Example 6
In a system with two plants, the incremental fuel costs are given by

dF1
0.01PG1 20 Rs / MWh
dPG1
dF2
0.015 PG 2 22.5 Rs / MWh
dPG 2
The system is running under optimal schedule with PG1 = PG2 = 100 MW.
If

PL
P
= 0.2, find the plant penalty factors and L .
PG2
PG1

13

Solution:
For economic schedule,

dFi
Li ;
dPGi

Li

1
;
PL
1
PGi

For plant 2, PG2 = 100 MW

0.015 100 22.5

1
.
1 0 .2

Solving, 30 Rs / MWh
L2 =

1
1.25
1 0 .2

dF1
L1 (0.01x100+20) L1 = 30
dPG1
L1 = 1.428
L1 =

1
P
1 L
PG1

1.428 =

PL
1
; Solving
= 0.3
PL
PG1
1
PG1

Example 7
A two bus system is shown in Fig. 8.8 If 100 MW is transmitted from plant 1 to the load,
a loss of 10 MW is incurred. System incremental cost is Rs 30 / MWh. Find PG1, PG2 and
power received by load if

dF1
0.02 PG1 16.0 Rs / MWh
dPG1
dF2
0.04 PG 2 20.0 Rs / MWh
dPG 2

PG1
G1

PG 2
G2
Load

14

Fig One line diagram of example 7

Solution;
Since the load is connected at bus 2 , no loss is incurred when plant two supplies the
load.
Therefore in (8.36) B12 = 0 and B22 = 0

PL
2 B11 PG1 ;
PG1

PL B11 PG1 ;
2

PL
0 .0
PG2

From data we have PL = 10 MW, if PG1 = 100 MW

10 = B11 (100)2
B11 = 0.001

MW-1

Coordination equation with loss is

dFi
P
L
dPGi
PGi
For plant 1

dF1
P
L
dPG1
PG1

(0.02 PG1 +16.0) + 30 (2 x 0.001 x PG1) = 30

0.08 PG1 = 30 - 16.0. From which, PG1 = 175 MW
For Plant 2

dF2
P
L
dPG1
PG2

0.04 PG2 + 20.0 = 30 or PG2 = 250 MW

Loss = B11 PG12 = 0.001 x (175)2 = 30.625 MW
PD = (PG1 + PG2) PL = 394. 375 MW

DERIVATION OF TRANSMISSION LOSS FORMULA

An accurate method of obtaining general loss coefficients has been presented
by Kron. The method is elaborate and a simpler approach is possible by making the
following assumptions:
(i)

All load currents have same phase angle with respect to a common reference

(ii)

The ratio X / R is the same for all the network branches.

15

Consider the simple case of two generating plants connected to an arbitrary number of
loads through a transmission network as shown in Fig a
IG1
1
IG2

IK

ID

2
(a)

IG1 = ID
1
IK1

ID

2
IG2 = 0
(b)

IG1 = 0
1
IG2 = ID

IK2

ID

2
(c)
Fig Two plants connected to a number of loads through a transmission network
Lets assume that the total load is supplied by only generator 1 as shown in Fig 8.9b. Let
the current through a branch K in the network be IK1. We define

I K1
ID
It is to be noted that IG1 = ID in this case. Similarly with only plant 2 supplying the load
N K1

current ID, as shown in Fig 8.9c, we define

NK2

IK2
ID

16

NK1 and NK2 are called current distribution factors and their values depend on the
impedances of the lines and the network connection. They are independent of I D. When
both generators are supplying the load, then by principle of superposition
IK = NK1 IG1 + NK2 IG2
where IG1, IG2 are the currents supplied by plants 1 and 2 respectively, to meet the
demand ID. Because of the assumptions made, IK1 and ID have same phase angle, as do
IK2 and ID. Therefore, the current distribution factors are real rather than complex. Let

I G1 I G1 1 and I G 2 I G 2 2 .
where 1 and 2 are phase angles of IG1 and IG2 with respect to a common reference. We
can write
IK

N K 1 I G1 cos 1 N K 2 I G 2 cos 2 N K 1 I G1 sin 1 N K 2 I G 2 sin 2

2

N K 1 I G1 cos 2 1 sin 2 1 N K 2 I G 2
2

cos

2 sin 2 2

2N K 1 I G1 cos 1 N K 2 I G 2 cos 2 N K 1 I G1 sin 1 N K 2 I G 2 sin 2

= N K 1 I G1 N K 2 I G 2 2 N K 1 N K 2 I G1 I G 2 cos 1 2
2

PG1

Now I G1

PG 2

and I G 2

3 V1 cos 1
3 V2 cos 2
where PG1, PG2 are three phase real power outputs of plant1 and plant 2; V 1, V2 are the

line to line bus voltages of the plants and 1 , 2 are the power factor angles.
The total transmission loss in the system is given by
PL =

3 I

2
K

RK

where the summation is taken over all branches of the network and R K is the branch
resistance. Substituting we get

PL

PG1

V1

N
cos

PG 2

V2

cos 2

RK

2
K1

2
K2

2 PG1 PG 2 cos 1 2
N K 1 N K 2 RK
V1 V2 cos 1 cos 2 K

RK

PL PG1 B11 2 PG1 PG 2 B12 PG 2 B22

2

where

B11

V1

N
cos
2

2
K1

RK

17

cos 1 2
V1 V2 cos 1 cos 2

B12
B22

1
V2

cos 2

K1

N K 2 RK

2
K2

RK

The loss coefficients are called the B coefficients and have unit MW-1.
For a general system with n plants the transmission loss is expressed as

PL

PG1

V1

p , q 1
pq

PGn

cos 1

N K1 ........

PGP PGq cos p q

V p Vq cos p cos q

Vn

cos n

KP

2
Kn

RK

N Kq RK

In a compact form
n

PL PGp B Pq PGq
p 1 q 1

B Pq

cos p q
V p Vq cos P cos q

KP

N Kq R K

B Coefficients can be treated as constants over the load cycle by computing them at
average operating conditions, without significant loss of accuracy.
Example 8
Calculate the loss coefficients in pu and MW-1 on a base of 50MVA for the network of
Fig below. Corresponding data is given below.
Ia = 1.2 j 0.4 pu

Za = 0.02 + j 0.08 pu

Ib = 0.4 - j 0.2 pu

Zb = 0.08 + j 0.32 pu

Ic = 0.8 - j 0.1 pu

Zc = 0.02 + j 0.08 pu

Id = 0.8 - j 0.2 pu

Zd = 0.03 + j 0.12 pu

Ie = 1.2 - j 0.3 pu

Ze = 0.03 + j 0.12 pu

18

Vref = 1.0 00

G1

Ib

Ia

G2
Ic

I1
d

I2

Id

Load 1

Ie

Load 2

Fig : Example 8
Solution:
Total load current
IL = Id + Ie = 2.0 j 0.5 = 2.061 -14.030A
IL1 = Id = 0.8 - j 0.2 = 0.8246 -14.030 A

I L1
0.4;
IL

I L2
1 .0 0 .4 0 .6
IL

If generator 1, supplies the load then I1 = IL. The current distribution is shown in Fig a.
a

G1

G2
IL

0.6 IL

Ic = 0

IL

I2 = 0
d

0.4 IL

Load 1

0.6 IL

Load 2

Fig a : Generator 1 supplying the total load

N a1

Ia
I
1.0; N b1 b 0.6; N C1 0; N d 1 0.4; N e1 0.6.
IL
IL

Similarly the current distribution when only generator 2 supplies the load is shown in Fig
b.

19

G1

G2
Ia = 0

0.4 IL

IL
IL

0.4 IL

Load 1

0.6 IL

Load 2

Fig b: Generator 2 supplying the total load

Na2 =0; Nb2 = -0.4; Nc2 = 1.0; Nd2 = 0.4; Ne2 = 0.6
From Fig 8.10, V1 = Vref + ZaIa
= 1 00 + (1.2 j 0.4) (0.02 + j0.08)
= 1.06 4.780 = 1.056 + j 0.088 pu.
V2 = Vref Ib Zb + Ic Zc
= 1.0 00 (0.4 j 0.2) (0.08 + j 0.32) + (0.8 j 0.1) (0.02 + j 0.08)
= 0.928 j 0.05 = 0.93 -3.100 pu.
Current Phase angles
0 .4
0
1 angle of I1(=Ia) = tan-1
18.43
1
.
2

0
.
1

0
2 angle of I 2 I c tan 1
7.13
0
.
8

cos 1 2 0.98
Power factor angles
1 4.78 0 18.43 23.210 ; cos 1 0.92

2 7.130 3.10 0 4.030 ; cos 2 0.998

B11

N
K

V1

2
K1

RK

cos 1 2

1.0 2 0.02 0.6 2 0.08 0.4 2 0.03 0.6 2 0.03

1.062 0.9202

= 0.0677 pu
1
0.1354 10 2 MW-1
50
Cos 1 2
B12
N K 1 N K 2 RK
V1 V2 cos 1 cos 2 K

= 0.0677 x

20

0.98
0.4 0.6 0.08 0.4 0.4 0.03 0.6 0.6 0.03
1.060.930.9980.92
= - 0.00389 pu
=

= - 0.0078 x 10-2 MW-1

B22

N
K

V2

2
K2

RK

cos
2

0.42 0.08 1.0 2 0.02 0.4 2 0.03 0.6 2 0.03

0.932 0.9982

= 0.056pu 0.112 10 2 MW-1

21