A fuzzy satisficing method for electric power plant coal purchase using genetic algorithms

In this paper, we treat coal purchase planning in a real electric power plant. Several complex constraints as well as multiple vague goals are involved in the planning problem. The conventional mixed integer programming approach is in vain because of its complexity and multiple vague goals. We apply a fuzzy satisficing method to deal with the vagueness of the goals. Utilizing a desirable property of the problem, we show the complex problem can be solved by a couple of rules and genetic algorithms. The validity of the proposed approach is verified by numerical simulations.