OPTIMUM ENERGY FOR ENERGY PACKET NETWORKS

Abstract

The concept of Energy Packet Network (EPN) proposed by Gelenbe, is a new framework for modeling power grids that takes distributed energy generation such as renewable energy sources into consideration, and which contributes to modeling the smart grid. Based on G-network theory, this paper presents a simplified model of EPN and formulates energy-distribution as an optimization problem. We analyze it theoretically, and detail its optimal solutions. In addition to using existing optimization algorithms, a heuristic algorithm is proposed to solve for EPN optimization. The optimal solutions and efficacy of the algorithm are illustrated with numerical experiments. Further, we present an EPN with disconnections and a similar optimization problem is investigated. Optimal solutions are presented, and numerical results using the analytic optimal solutions, random solutions, a cooperative particle swarm optimizer and a heuristic algorithm illustrate the power of different approaches for solving energy-distribution problems using the EPN formalism.