CAREER: Optimal Interdependent Operation of Electricity Distribution Grids and Water Distribution Systems in Smart Cities

配电网和供水系统是对社会福祉至关重要的重要基础设施。虽然它们传统上是独立运作的，但它们是相互联系和相互依存的。这种相互依赖性体现在供水服务设施的电力消耗上，如抽水、处理和废水管理。各利益攸关方日益认识到，在城市地区协调运作配套的基础设施组成部分和服务可以带来社会经济效益。因此，本项目的目标是提出一个框架，解决耦合配电网络和供水系统的资源管理的挑战。潜在的好处包括向最终用户提供更可靠和更经济的电力和水。此外，该项目还通过加强德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校的电力工程课程以及向高中生和当地社区大学的推广来支持教育。该项目提出了新的多阶段优化方法，用于优化配电网和供水系统的资产利用率和资源调度。具体而言，多相操作的电力分配网络与Y形和三角形连接的变种明确建模。紧多面体松弛的最佳功率流在配电网与步进电压调节器的开发和扩展到其他公用事业或最终用户的资产。基于压缩映射和惩罚方法的新型优化方案克服了控制配水系统的水力方程的非凸性和不可微性。开发了电力和水分配系统的能量优化联合管理的综合模型。两个网络之间的物理耦合被明确地考虑，而优化的多周期泵和水箱操作利用固有的时间灵活性，并可以提供一种形式的能量存储。所开发的模型也可以被纳入配电服务恢复序列。这项研究是在德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥的实时电力网络模拟器验证。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Electricity distribution networks and water distribution systems are critical infrastructures that are vital for the social well-being. Although they are traditionally operated independently, they are interconnected and interdependent. The interdependency is manifested through the electricity consumption of water services facilities, such as pumping, treatment, and wastewater management. It is becoming recognized by various stakeholders that socio-economic benefits can be reaped from the coordinated operation of coupled infrastructure components and services in an urban district. The objective of this project is thus to put forth a framework that addresses challenges in resource management for coupled electricity distribution networks and water distribution systems. The potential benefits include more reliable and economic delivery of electricity and water to the end-user. Furthermore, this project supports education through enhancement of the power engineering curriculum at the University of Texas at San Antonio as well as outreach to high school students and local community colleges.This project puts forth novel multi-period optimization methods for optimal asset utilization and resource scheduling in electricity distribution grids and water distribution systems. Specifically, the multi-phase operation of electricity distribution grids with wye and delta connection variants is explicitly modeled. Tight polyhedral relaxations for optimal power flow in distribution grids with step-voltage regulators are developed and are extended to account for other utility or end-user assets. Novel optimization schemes building on contraction mappings and penalty methods overcome the nonconvex and nondifferentiable nature of the hydraulic equations that govern water distribution systems. Comprehensive models for energy-optimal joint management of electricity and water distribution systems are developed. The physical coupling between the two networks is explicitly accounted for, while optimized multi-period pump and water tank operation takes advantage of the inherent time flexibility and can provide a form of energy storage. The developed models can also be incorporated in distribution service restoration sequences. The research is validated with a real-time power network simulator at the University of Texas at San Antonio.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.