Computer-Aided Generation Maintenance Scheduling

Power plant maintenance is a high cost expense for electric utilities. The impact of plant maintenance scheduling on system cost and reliability is increasing as generating facilities increase in size, number and complexity. Traditionally, power plant maintenance scheduling has been performed manually. However, due to the complexity of the constraints involved, it is difficult. to arrive at optimal schedules using manual techniques. In the past two decades maintenance scheduling computer programs have been developed using heuristic as well as mathematical programming techniques. This paper discusses the current techniques and describes a dynamic programming-based program developed for multi-year maintenance scheduling of thermal generating units. The use of dynamic programming techniques in the program allows modelling of complex operating constraints such as manpower and other resources, reserve and probabilistic reliability constraints. The dynamic programming method used is described and issues involving the implementation of the algorithm are addressed. Applications and benefits of the program, as well as computer platform and user interface issues, are discussed and examples are given.