Patent ID: 7523075
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for determining a generator startup cost modeling using a time counter for use in optimizing generator operation, said method comprising: assigning, using a computer processor, a binary value to one or more time segment variables each associated with an increment of the time counter wherein a relationship defined by the sum of the one or more time segment variables being greater than or equal to a binary startup variable constitutes a first constraint of a model for determining generator startup cost, wherein a relationship defined by a sum of products of each binary time segment variable and time increment being less than or equal to a time-off variable constitutes a second constraint of the model, wherein the time-off variable being less than or equal to a time horizon used by the model constitutes a third constraint of the model, wherein the time-off variable indicates an amount of time that the generator is shutoff over the time horizon; assigning, using the computer processor, a value to one or more startup costs variables associated with each of the one or more time segment variables; and determining the startup cost of a shutdown time for use in optimizing generator operation by summing, by the computer processor, the products of each time segment variable and associated startup cost variable subject to meeting said first, second and third constraints and further subject to a minimization operator, which, when executed by the computer processor, is configured to minimize generator startup cost, wherein the minimization operator comprises min{S