Optimum Operation of Fixed-Head Hydro-Thermal Electric Power Systems: Powell's Hybrid Method Versus Newton-Raphson Method

The present paper deals with the computational aspects of the coordination equations for hydrothermal sheduling. The hybrid method of Powell is proposed and its details are given. The method avoids possible causes for divergence encountered with the application of Newton-Raphson method. As a result a very reliable and efficient algorithm for fast solution of coordination equations emerges. Comprehensive testing of the performance of the method in comparison with Newton's is offered in the text. It is concluded that the method should be used whenever Newton's method is suspected to give doubtful performance.