MULTI-OBJECTIVE SCHEDULING FOR ON/OFF EQUIPMENT

摘要

An apparatus, method and computer program product for scheduling on/off control of equipment. The method implements an iterative approach that uses one objective and sets a tolerance value on the other objectives. Initially, the method computes the value of the different objective functions given a current feasible solution. The different objective functions are iteratively evaluated with respect to the current solution and a margin is set for every objective at each iteration. The margin is a deviation measure indicating the acceptable range by which each objective can be worsened. The method iteratively optimizes each objective function with respect to one of the objectives, following an order, while enforcing a maximum deviation on the other objective functions by setting them as constraints. The allowable deviation margin is then decreased for all the objective functions. A final output schedule is provided from which signals may be generated to automatically turn on/off the equipment.

主权项

1. A method of scheduling on/off control of a piece of one or more pieces of equipment of a system comprising:
receiving at a processing device, a selection of an objective from among of a plurality of objectives achieved or impacted by turning on or off one or more pieces of equipment; the system objective represented by a corresponding objective function; receiving, at the processing device, an input margin setting for the objective representing an allowable deviation margin by which an objective may worsen during an iteration; providing a current solution to the corresponding objective function; iteratively evaluating a different objective and solving a corresponding objective function with respect to the current solution to optimize the current solution with respect to multiple objectives, and at each iteration, changing the margin setting value for every other objective not being evaluated in the current iteration to enforce a range by which said every other objective can be worsened at the current iteration; terminating the iterations to obtain a final solution comprising a schedule of times for on/off control of said one or more pieces of equipment, the schedule being optimal with respect to the multiple objectives; generating signals based on the schedule of on/off times for controlling said one or more pieces of equipment; and turning on or off said one or more pieces of equipment using said signals.