A dynamic programming algorithm for optimal design and operation of tidal power plants

Abstract

In this paper, a dynamic programming algorithm is proposed and demonstrated on a test case to determine the optimum operating schedule of a barrage tidal power plant to maximize the energy generation over a tidal cycle. Since consecutive sets of high and low tides can be predicted accurately for any tidal power plant site, this algorithm can be used to calculate the annual energy generation for different technical configurations of a tidal power plant. Thus an optimal choice of a tidal power plant design can be made from amongst the different design configurations yielding the least cost of energy generation. Since this algorithm determines the optimal time of operation of sluice gate opening and turbine gates opening to maximize energy generation over a tidal cycle, it can also be used to obtain annual schedule of operation of a tidal power plant and minute-to-minute energy generation, for dissemination amongst power distribution utilities.