Generator maintenance management using bio‐inspired search algorithm

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the maintenance management problems of generating units under the reliability criterion.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem has been formulated as a combinatorial optimization task, with explicit and simultaneous treatment of multiple objectives: maximization of reliability, minimization of fuel costs and minimization of constraint violations. This paper formulates a general generator maintenance management (GMM) problem using a reliability criterion and a novel bio‐inspired search technique, namely, artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is applied to determine the optimal generator maintenance schedule.

Findings

A novel meta‐heuristic search technique based algorithm has been developed to determine the optimal maintenance schedule of generating units to improve the system reliability.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper is that an efficient bio‐inspired algorithm based solution technique has been developed to solve a very important problem for a power utility, i.e. the economical and reliable operation of a power system.

Citation

Subramanian, S., Anandhakumar, R. and Ganesan, S. (2011), "Generator maintenance management using bio‐inspired search algorithm", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 522-544. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506221111186350