An enhanced decomposition algorithm for multistage stochastic hydroelectric scheduling

Handling uncertainty in natural inflow is an important part of a hydroelectric scheduling model. In a stochastic programming formulation, natural inflow may be modeled as a random vector with known distribution, but the size of the resulting mathematical program can be formidable. Decomposition-based algorithms take advantage of special structure and provide an attractive approach to such problems. We develop an enhanced Benders decomposition algorithm for solving multistage stochastic linear programs. The enhancements include warm start basis selection, preliminary cut generation, the multicut procedure, and decision tree traversing strategies. Computational results are presented for a collection of stochastic hydroelectric scheduling problems.

[1]  Andrzej Ruszczyński,et al.  Regularized Decomposition of Stochastic Programs: Algorithmic Techniques and Numerical Results , 1993 .

[2]  R. Wets,et al.  L-SHAPED LINEAR PROGRAMS WITH APPLICATIONS TO OPTIMAL CONTROL AND STOCHASTIC PROGRAMMING. , 1969 .

[3]  J. Birge,et al.  A multicut algorithm for two-stage stochastic linear programs , 1988 .

[4]  Andrzej Ruszczynski,et al.  On augmented Lagrangian decomposition methods for multistage stochastic programs , 1996, Ann. Oper. Res..

[5]  Naum Zuselevich Shor,et al.  Minimization Methods for Non-Differentiable Functions , 1985, Springer Series in Computational Mathematics.

[6]  R. Tyrrell Rockafellar,et al.  Scenarios and Policy Aggregation in Optimization Under Uncertainty , 1991, Math. Oper. Res..

[7]  Wittrock Advances in a nested decomposition algorithm for solving staircase linear programs. Technical report SOL 83-2 , 1983 .

[8]  G. Infanger,et al.  Planning under uncertainty solving large-scale stochastic linear programs , 1992 .

[9]  David P. Rutenberg,et al.  Computation in Discrete Stochastic Programs with Recourse , 1973, Oper. Res..

[10]  R. J-B. Wets,et al.  Large Scale Linear Programming Techniques , 1988 .

[11]  Andrzej Ruszczynski,et al.  A regularized decomposition method for minimizing a sum of polyhedral functions , 1986, Math. Program..

[12]  Jery R. Stedinger,et al.  SOCRATES: A system for scheduling hydroelectric generation under uncertainty , 1995, Ann. Oper. Res..

[13]  R. V. Helgason,et al.  Algorithms for network programming , 1980 .

[14]  Horand I. Gassmann,et al.  Mslip: A computer code for the multistage stochastic linear programming problem , 1990, Math. Program..

[15]  John R. Birge,et al.  Decomposition and Partitioning Methods for Multistage Stochastic Linear Programs , 1985, Oper. Res..

[16]  Horst A. Eiselt,et al.  Continuous Optimization Models , 1987 .