Generator Maintenance Scheduling using Exchange Market Algorithm

The Generator Maintenance Schedule model is formulated mathematically as a highly constrained combinatorial optimization problem and it is obligatory to implement a suitable optimization tool to determine the best feasible maintenance schedule. The maintenance schedule obtained has to meet a number of power system constraints. There is increased research in the development of approximate solution methodologies such as heuristic and meta-heuristic techniques [1]. Unlike mathematical methods, metaheuristics can obtain an optimal solution to a complex problem fast and are not subjected to limitations such as linearity, continuity, differentiability and convexity that are faced by mathematical programs [2]. This work presents the application of Exchange Market Algorithm (EMA) to find an optimal maintenance schedule. The algorithm is customized to achieve the following: • Selecting the initial population within the maintenance window constraint to enable faster convergence. • Adapt the algorithm to give discrete solutions. • Penalty function included for constraint handling.