Saha, Akshay Kumar.Ohaegbuchi, Dedacus Nnadozie.2023-07-182023-07-1820222022https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/21914Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The combination of heat and power constitutes a system that provides electricity and thermal energy concurrently. Its high efficiency and significant emission reduction makes it an outstanding prospect in the future of energy production and transmission. The broad application of combined heat and power units requires the joint dispatch of power and heating systems, in which the modelling of combined heat and power units plays a vital role. This research paper employed genetic algorithm, artificial bee colony, differential evolution, particle swarm optimization and direct solution algorithms to evaluate the cost function as well as output decision variables of heat and power in a system that has simple cycle cogeneration unit with quadratic cost function. The system was first modeled to determine the various parameters of combined heat and power units in order to solve the economic dispatch problem with direct solution algorithm. In order for modelling to be done, a general structure of combined heat and power must be defined. The system considered in this research consists of four test units, i.e. two conventional power units, one combined heat and power unit and one heat-only unit. These algorithms were applied to on the research data set to determine the required decision variables while taking into account the power and heat units, operation bound of power and heat-only units as well as feasible operation region of the cogeneration unit. Power and heat output decision variables plus cost functions from Genetic Algorithm, differential evolution, Particle Swarm Optimization and artificial bee colony were determined using codes. Also, the decision variables and cost function value were obtained by calculations using direct solution algorithm. The findings of the research paper show that there are different ways in which combined heat and power economic dispatch variables can be determined, which include genetic algorithm, differential evolution, artificial bee colony, particle swarm optimization and direct solution algorithms. However, each solution method allows for different combined heat and power output decision variables to be found, with some of the methods (particle swarm optimization and artificial bee colony) having setbacks such as: large objective function values, slower convergence and large number solution. The analysis revealed that the differential evolution algorithm is a viable alternative to solving combined heat and power problems. This is due in most part to its faster convergence, minimum cost function value, and high quality solution which are diverse and widespread, more as a result of its effective search capability than genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, direct solution and artificial bee colony algorithms. The methods investigated in this research paper can be used and expanded on to create useful and accurate technique of solving combined heat and power problems.enArtificial Bee.Cogeneration constraint lines.Feasible Operation Region.Magnetic fields.Global climate change.Thesis