Multi-objective optimal dispatch of household flexible loads based on their real-life operating characteristics and energy-related occupant behavior

A model-based optimal dispatch framework was proposed to optimize operation of residential flexible loads considering their real-life operating characteristics,energy-related occupant behavior,and the benefits of different stakeholders.A pilot test was conducted for a typical household.According to the monitored appliance-level data,operating characteristics of flexible loads were identified and the models of these flexible loads were developed using multiple linear regression and K-means clustering methods.Moreover,a data-mining approach was developed to extract the occupant energy usage behavior of various flexible loads from the monitored data.Occupant behavior of appliance usage,such as daily turn-on times,turn-on moment,duration of each operation,preference of temperature setting,and flexibility window,were determined by the developed data-mining approach.Based on the established flexible load models and the identified occupant energy usage behavior,a many-objective nonlinear optimal dispatch model was developed aiming at minimizing daily electricity costs,occupants’dissatisfaction,CO_(2) emissions,and the average ramping index of household power profiles.The model was solved with the assistance of the NSGA-III and TOPSIS methods.Results indicate that the proposed framework can effectively optimize the operation of household flexible loads.Compared with the benchmark,the daily electricity costs,CO_(2) emissions,and average ramping index of household power profiles of the optimal plan were reduced by 7.3%,6.5%,and 14.4%,respectively,under the TOU tariff,while those were decreased by 9.5%,8.8%,and 23.8%,respectively,under the dynamic price tariff.The outputs of this work can offer guidance for the day-ahead optimal scheduling of household flexible loads in practice.