Multi-objective Control Optimization of Pumped Storage Units under Successive Load Rejections

Abstract Pumped hydropower is one of the most important renewable energy in a power grid, which is converted into electricity through pumped storage hydropower systems (PSHS). However, the energy conversion process of a PSHS may be greatly threatened by extreme working conditions, especially successive load rejections (SLR). In order to obtain the optimal control scheme for SLR, this paper aims to study the control optimization strategies so as to achieve safe and stable operation of PSHS. Firstly, a refined nonlinear PSHS model for SLR is constructed and validated by field data. Then, a novel optimization strategy incorporating multiple objectives, multiple guide vane control law (GVCL) schemes and multiple engineering constraints are proposed. The result shows that the proposed optimization strategy is effective for solving the control problem of PSHS under SLR, the optimal GVCL for SLR can be obtained by only one optimization.