An Optimal Energy Management System for

University Campus Using FLA

BSc Thesis in Electrical (Communication) Engineering

Submitted by

Haneef Ullah (17BNELE0863)

Murad Khan (17BNELE0853)

Supervisor
Dr. Ibrar Ullah (Assistant Professor)

Department of Electrical Engineering,

UET Peshawar, Pakistan
September, 2021

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 Certificate of Approval

The final year project, final thesis report entitled “An Optimal Energy Management System for
University Campus Using FLA” recommended to be accepted as the partial fulfillment of the
requirements of the Degree for Bachelor of Science in Electrical (Communication) Engineering.

SUPERVISOR

Dr. Ibrar Ullah (Assistant Professor)

......................................................................

Chairman,
Signature: ................................................................
Department of Electrical Engineering,

Date: ......................................................................
UET Peshawar, Bannu Campus

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 Acknowledgement

Our utmost praises be to ALLAH (The Almighty), for His blessings and wisdom
bestowed upon us during our research work completion. Without His grace, this work was
impossible. Myriad appreciations and gratitude to our respectable supervisor, Dr. Ibrar Ullah
(Assistant Professor); a wonderful companion, with great edifying skills. We are indeed indebted
to him and will never forget his favour upon us. He guided us professionally throughout our
entire project. For the whole duration of the project, he was competently accessible to us. We are
also very grateful to Dr. Naeem Khan (Chairman DEE), for his kind attitude, whose experience
made us capable of, to complete our degree and this research work. Thanks to all our teachers
and colleagues, who eagerly helped us with their knowledge and abilities.

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 Abstract

As the world population is exponentially growing and existence limited energy

resources can‟t fulfill modern world need. Due to conventional approaches, much of the
generated energy in the distribution network and demand side is wasted each year. In the
residential sector more than 80 percent of the total energy is used. This brings with it a difficult
mission to keep the equilibrium between need and electric power production. To face these
challenges, a hybrid grid is reformed through integration of two ways Connection between
customer and unit of generation. This is why scholars around the world took it a strong
fascination in the problem, and ultimately established the smart grid idea. SG is the best way out
for all the energy associated issues of the developed and modern world today. In our research, we
have suggested a Hybrid Bio-Inspired Algorithm named Firefly and Lion Algorithm. The
suggested algorithm solves the actual biosphere challenge of energy optimization for one and
many homes, businesses and industries. Two kinds of devices are evaluated in our system model:
Shiftable and Non shiftable. Shiftable devices play an essential part in energy management on
the consumer's side, because they can be designed according to the Day Ahead Price Signal. For
power management as Shiftable devices, Non-shiftable devices are less relevant because they
need a defined time slot and cannot be scheduled with the respective DAP signal. Smart Meter
from the company takes the DAP signal. After our simulation outcomes, it can be decided that
our suggested algorithm FLA has reduced the PAR [1]. In other words the stability of Smart Grid
is increased. While there is a deal between electricity cost and waiting time, by decreasing the
electricity cost the waiting time increases and vice versa. But in our results using FLA we have
decreased the waiting time as electricity cost up to greater extent.

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Keywords:

Peak To Average Power Ratio (PAR), Real Time Pricing (RTP) Signal, Renewable Energy
Sources (RES), Demand Response (DR), Smart Grid (SG), Smart Meter (SM), Traditional
Electric Power Grid (TEPG), Demand Side Management (DSM), Energy Management
Controller (EMC), Length of Operational Time (LOT), Global System For Mobile
Communication(GSM), Moth flame optimization algorithm (MFO), Cuckoo search algorithm
(CSA), Multi-Verse optimization (MVO) algorithm, General Packet Radio Services (GPRS),
Bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA), and Grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA),
Conventional electric power grids (CEPG), Self-Operated Devices (SODs).

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1 Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1

1.1 History of the Electricity Grid ........................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Modernization Opportunities ....................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Smart Grid Need ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.4 Definition of Smart Grid ................................................................................................................ 3
1.5 On-peak Hours .............................................................................................................................. 3
1.6 Off-peak Hours .............................................................................................................................. 4
1.7 Demand side management ........................................................................................................... 4
1.7.1 Energy Management and Demand Response .............................................................................. 4
1.7.2 Smart Meter ................................................................................................................................. 5
1.7.3 Energy Management Controller .................................................................................................. 5
1.8 Characteristics of the smart grid ................................................................................................... 7
1.8.1 Saving Money ............................................................................................................................... 7
1.8.2 Controlled Energy Usage .............................................................................................................. 7
1.8.3 Energy Authenticity...................................................................................................................... 7
1.8.4 Protecting the environment......................................................................................................... 7
1.8.5 Control on power bill ................................................................................................................... 7
1.8.6 It facilitates real-time troubleshooting ........................................................................................ 8
1.8.7 Reduces expenses to energy producers ...................................................................................... 8
1.9 Objective ....................................................................................................................................... 8

Chapter 2 Literature Review .................................................................... 10

Chapter 3 Methodology ............................................................................. 14
3.1 System Model ............................................................................................................................. 14
3.2 Classification of Load .................................................................................................................. 15
3.3 Appliances categorization ........................................................................................................... 16
3.3.1 Shiftable appliance .............................................................................................................. 17
3.3.2 Non-shiftable appliances ........................................................................................................... 18
3.4 Proposed Scheduling Algorithm.................................................................................................. 18
3.4.1 Firefly algorithm ......................................................................................................................... 18
3.4.2 Lion Algorithm ............................................................................................................................ 19
3.4.3 FLA .............................................................................................................................................. 20

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CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ............................................ 21
4.1 Pricing signal ............................................................................................................................... 21
4.2 Electricity Cost............................................................................................................................. 21
4.3 Peak to average power ratio (PAR) ............................................................................................. 22
4.4 Waiting time................................................................................................................................ 23
4.5 Hourly Load ................................................................................................................................. 24
4.6 Renewable energy sources (RES) ................................................................................................ 25

Conclusion and Future work ........................................................................... 27

REFERENCE .................................................................................................... 28

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 History of the Electricity Grid

Great Barrington, Massachusetts, constructed the alternating current power grid which was the
first grid in 1886 [2]. At the time, the grid was a centralised uni-directional structure of
electricity transmission, power distribution and demand-led control.

In particular, domestic grids grew during the years of the twentieth century and were
progressively connected for financial and credible reasons. In the 1960s, developed countries
were able to transmit power to major power customers via large-capacity power transmission
systems that had been connected and separated to power the whole of the supply area for smaller
industrial and domestic users. In the 1960s, they were highly interconnected and mature. The
electrical grid structure of the 1960s is the consequence of steady far-reaching economies:
massive coal, gas and oil power plants in the 1 GW (1000 MW) to 3 GW range are still proving
viable because of the boosting capability of power stations only when the capacity was
determined to be quite enormous.

Measurement of electric-power usage was required on a per-consumer based for the purpose to
make proper tariffing in accordance to the (highly variable) extent of utilisation of distinct end
users. Due to confined data bunch and processing capacity throughout the era of grid expansion,
fixed rate agreements were usually positioned in place, in addition to double tariff agreements,
where overnight electricity usage was paid at a reduced rate than day time electricity usage. A
double pricing bargain occurred due to a reduction in demand for night time. Dual rates made it
possible for low-cost night-time electricity to be used on requirements such as maintenance of
heat banks used to flow on a regular basis as well as to reduce the number of turbines needed to
shut down overnight, thus enhancing the usage and viability of generation and transmission
facilities. The competences of the metering of the 1960s grid were aimed at technical limitations
to the amount to which the system could flow price signals.

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1.2 Modernization Opportunities
The promise of making use of the improvement in electronic technologies of communication to
overcome the weaknesses and expenses of electric grids has been evident at the beginning of the
21st century. The technological disadvantages of the metering are no longer due to the average
peak rates that all customers receive consistent approval. At the same time, growing concerns
about the environmental damage caused by the use of fossil fuels have contributed to the desire
to use huge amounts of renewable energy. Prominent kinds, like wind and solar, have varied
greatly and the need for more advanced control systems has thus been clear to enhance the
relationship between sources and the otherwise highly controllable network [3].

1.3 Smart Grid Need

Everything is altering very rapidly in this modern world. All the things are moving towards and
evolving in all phases of life to make users and customers more and more relaxed. All the
researchers and inventors are seeking to find new technologies, inventions and improvements
and make use of it for the good of the world and the human being. Yet energy optimization is a
very important field of research in all these areas. In this modern world and every aspect of life
electrical energy is used i.e. in our homes (lights, air conditioner, freezer, etc.), offices
(computer, fan, lights, etc.), factories (heavy machines), all businesses (trade, company etc.),
universities, schools, colleges, laboratories, cars, hospitals, and in transports. It is also important
to remember that energy consumption rises every day. New houses, power consumption centres
like new factories, computers, machinery, and vehicles are made every day. But the presence of
energy is constant, since all energy generating station provides only a given quantity of energy
for limited time duration, and this energy generation can only be improved if the complete
producing base construction is modified, which is unlikely. Because of the intensification of
energy demand, we can‟t alter the whole structure. Instead, all those power consuming items
must be supplied with electricity. Residential users now use about 40 percent of the total energy
produced a day, and about 30 to 40 percent of carbon emission occurs [4].The excessive and
wasteful usage of electrical energy carries ecological problems such as fossils air emissions and
global warming to the forefront. We must therefore turn the Traditional Electric Power Grid
(TEPG) into a Smart Grid (SG).

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1.4 Definition of Smart Grid
The smart grid comprises a wide range of smart metres, intelligent devices, renewable energy
infrastructure, as well as energy efficient resources[5], and includes working and energy
efficiency programmes. Capital smart grid components include electronic power conditioning
and electricity production and distribution control [6].

Or

Smart Grid (SG) is the addition of information and communication technology (IT) in to the
TEPG and the TEPG becomes the Smart Grid SG by incorporating control system, information
management and cyber protection. In TEPG the energy flow is unidirectional while in Smart
Grid the energy flow is bi-directional [7].

SG is no longer a traditional grid (TG), however some techniques have to be merged into TG
before TG is called SG. These techniques comprise control systems, data management and cyber
protection. That is why it uses the word SMART for it. Actually, SG is a complex structure made
up of several parts. SG offers the Demand Side Management (DSM) service where the
appliances operate on the RTP signal. DSM is the adaptation of energy consumption to
requirement. The two services supplied by DSM are energy management and requirement
response. DR is a financial method used by electricity companies to drive their consumers from
low cost to low cost hours of the day to decrease or move their power consumption.

Demand Side Management DSM is a service provided by SG that operates devices

according to the signal of real time pricing (RTP). Demand side management (DSM) has several
methods that help with peak cutting, load ever-changing; planned preservation, adjustable load
ever-changing and planned load progress solve the energy optimization problem. Applying these
techniques we can transfer load from the timing of peak hours to the timing of un-peak hours [8].

1.5 On-peak Hours

On-peak hours are those hours of the day where the unit of energy is expensive than normal
situation. We have to shift our devices from expensive peak hours so as to decrease our cost.

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1.6 Off-peak Hours
Off-peak hours are those hours of the day where the unit of energy is not expensive. We have to
shift our devices from on-peak hours to off-peak hours so as to reduce our cost.

1.7 Demand side management

Demand Side Management is the management of operating devices and billing on consumer
side. The company provides the pricing signal. According to the pricing signal the load is
managed and consumer bill is calculated [9]. DSM focuses on the intelligent utilization of energy
resources. DSM is the shift in market call for using energy. Demand Side Management offers
two techniques „Energy Management (EM)‟ and „Demand Response (DR)‟.

1.7.1 Energy Management and Demand Response

Via two methods, EM and DR can be attained: incentive-based and price-based. The customer‟s
device is switched to ON / Off state in the incentive-based technique by sending a short message
to the Smart Home (SH) or Smart Building (SB) or any other smart appliance. The appliance is
switched to off state and vice versa when high peak is detected. Thus, the PAR is wirelessly
reduced by the company in this way, which is the major purpose in an optimization trouble.

Demand Response is an economic tactic that electric utilities corporations use it to force their
customers to decrease or change their energy usage from expensive hours to inexpensive hours.
Demand Side Management and Demand Response concentrate on using energy resources
smartly. DR offers numerous benefits to end users of electricity [5]. DR uses two methods:
Incentive based [7] and Price based [8]. In an incentive based method, the consumer's devices are
interrupt to an ON / Off states by transfer a quick note to the SH or Smart Building (SB), when
peak is sensed, the devices is switched off and switched on again after peak hours. Therefore,
PAR is reduced by the corporate and it is the key feature in a smart grid (SG). During
inexpensive hours or off-peak hours the customer is encouraged to use their devices in the
market-based program.

As a result, the customer‟s plans their uses in inexpensive hours, their per unit cost will be
minimum and will result in an affective reduction in his electricity bill. Smart Grid includes
many smart devices. These smart devices are SM, EMC, SODs and developed supply and
communication systems.

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1.7.2 Smart Meter
The SM is connected between the utility and energy management controller and it takes the
pricing signal from the company and then throws it to the EMC. Meanwhile, the SM takes the
users spent energy reading from EMC and sends it to the company. The Smart Meter remains in
communication with the company during a radio communication networks, i.e. Wi-MAX, Zig-
Bee, Bluetooth, WiFi, GSM or GPRS, or through power line communication (PLC) [2].
Henceforward, the EMC plans the Smart homes self-operated devices (SODs), and Smart Meter
launch communication between EMC and company.

Figure (a). Smart meter [39]

1.7.3 Energy Management Controller

Energy Management Controller shall obtain the appropriate energy usage plan from all
associated uses and will set the energy usage outline in accordance with the given pricing signal.
The EMC plans the Smart Homes self-operated devices (SODs), and Smart Meter launch
communication between EMC and company. EMC uses different types of techniques and
algorithm to schedule the consumer devices so as to decrease their cost, peak to average ratio and
waiting time.

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 Figure (b). Energy management controller [40]

There are many methods, and many researchers apply algorithms. These techniques and
procedures are of a diverse type and have unlike nature. Some techniques are built on
mathematical models, some techniques are related to nature-inspired algorithms, and some are
based on bio-inspired algorithms. According to these algorithms, researchers model their
problems and struggle to discover optimal or near perfect solutions to their issues. In the
previous twenty years, the Bio-Inspired optimization algorithms and Meta-heuristic optimization
algorithms have been played a major role in solving any optimization problem, due to which
these algorithms became very popular such as Genetic Algorithm (GA) [12], particle swarm
Optimization (PSO) algorithm [13], and Grass hopper optimization algorithm. These algorithms
are not only used by computer researchers, but also used in all aspects of life. The researchers
used all these approaches in energy management and smart grid efficiency. As with GA, the cost
of energy is reduced, but it is not optimized for waiting time and PAR. On the other hand, for
PAR reduction & waiting time, Cuckoo Search Algorithm CSA [13] is better, because these
techniques boost one parameter, but lags in other parameters. In this work we are applying the
hybrid technique, by using the hybrid of firefly and lion algorithm (FLA) and will check whether
it is best in achieving our objectives or not.

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1.8 Characteristics of the smart grid
These frequently asked questions for many individuals are at the centre of confusion just how the
smart grid helps the average everyday American [14]. You can save money with smart grid
technology, take care of your everyday power usage more efficiently and help protect the
environment. Read on, and you'll accept that the smart grid is advantageous to you in the
following ways, for several reasons:

1.8.1 Saving Money

Services can offer advanced metering to support energy users in lowering electricity usage
during hot waves and cold spells, by cutting peak demand times on the grid, conserving you
money.

1.8.2 Controlled Energy Usage

Digital metering enables individuals to manage the consumption and reduces demand of their
home resources. It gives electricity access usage data, in particular during energy-intensive
peaks, which helps energy users to make better informed energy choices.

1.8.3 Energy Authenticity

Digital meters allow utilities to supply a more efficient energy service, reducing the number of
electrical outages [15]. Before a person would ever have to call their service, smart meters will
electronically announce the location of an outage, making restoration quicker and notification of
status to persons much easier.

1.8.4 Protecting the environment

By 2030, the smart grid will minimize air emissions from the power utility industry by as much
as 30 percent, saving 34,000 deaths a year. The smart grid also means that it is possible to
incorporate renewable power sources such as wind turbines, solar plants and hydro stations.
Annual smart grid energy savings may be equivalent to 70 million road trips worldwide, or 1.7
trillion miles driving an electric vehicle.

1.8.5 Control on power bill

Smart grid enables monitoring and modification of your energy use through smart meters and
home energy management systems which deliver 24/7 rates and consumption measurement. That
means no surprises on your electricity account and even better, when you pay less, for low-

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demand periods you can design your most energy-intensive assignments. Your energy
consumption is in your hands and you still get bucks, months after months, in your pocket.

1.8.6 It facilitates real-time troubleshooting

If something goes wrong in the electricity system today, a service professional must go to the
problem site to collect data before a remedy can be created. Smart grid improvements transform
device occurrences into digital information which can be obtained promptly so that problem
solutions can start straight away. The cost savings for production which you receive will be
reduced with such higher performance.

1.8.7 Reduces expenses to energy producers

Today‟s infrastructure depends on the construction and preservation of costly standby plants that
sit idle, excluding for occasional critical demand times, to meet spikes in energy usage. In order
to minimize demand during these peak hours, Smart Grid permits direct communication with
end-user apparatus, eliminating the need for expensive standby power plants.

1.9 Objective
Power demand is currently growing due to an increase in the world's population. The
conventional grid (TG) system is not ideal for today's delivery system because it is expensive
and inefficient. TG is a continuous production of energy, in order to satisfy the demand of the
consumer; we need to increase the generation of energy by Fossil fuels, nuclear power plants,
and alternative energies (RES). The idea of innovative SG technology is evolving to reduce this
uncertainty. SG is a modern alternative to TG, which is friendly environment, since it makes
effective use of the constant generation of power between users and does not require more
generation of power. Various optimization methods are used in SG to solve energy efficiency
troubles. Some of them are: Genetic Algorithm (GA), Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA), using
GA, the price of energy is reduced, but it is not ideal for waiting time and PAR. On the other
hand, CSA is better at PAR & waiting time. The author discusses the loss of electricity in. [12],
[13].

The significant problems that must be resolved in the smart grid system are

1. Reduction of electricity cost.

2. Smart-grid stability (PAR).

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 3. Average waiting time.
4. Integration of renewable energy sources.

To accomplish all the goals in an efficient way, study has shifted towards a probabilistic
model. Many Bio-Inspired algorithms are used to solve energy efficiency problems. In our
research work, we proposed and evaluated a new Bio-Inspired optimization algorithm called
FLA. In our work, we will test this algorithm on the basis of the different objectives described
above

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Chapter 2 Literature Review

A countless agreement of struggle has been completed in the field of energy optimization
research over the last few decades, with various algorithms being established and effectively
applied in the field of energy optimization. The objectives of our research work are to achieve
the lowest cost, low waiting time, incorporation of RES and savings in the energy units that the
consumer consumes. Satisfactory results are obtained via the adaptation of these algorithms. As
discussed in the introduction, researchers are trying to apprehension the natural spectacle in their
processes. As a result, numerous natural-inspired and bio-inspired algorithms have been
developed. Our proposed algorithm is hybrid Firefly and Lion algorithm used to allow a wise and
effective use of available energy resources.

Any signal for the price of electricity shall consist of an on-peak hours and off-peak hours
planned by the company. The electricity pricing signal can be of changed time spaces, some
authors consider the electricity pricing signal to be of „48-time spaces‟ and some writers consider
the electricity pricing signal to be of „24-time spaces‟. Electric companies allow consumers to
run their devices in off-peak hours instead of arbitrarily controlled or in on-peak hours. As a
consequence, end users or consumers are paid less than unscheduled. Both algorithms attempt to
move the devices from on-peak hour to off-peak hour of the day, so that the customer pays a low
charge per device compared to busy hours.

There are lots of researches done in the area of energy optimization in smart grids. Different
algorithms are used for this purpose. In this work we want to decrease the electricity cost, PAR
and to enhance the user comfort by reducing devices waiting time.

Two Bio-Inspired algorithms; the GOA and BFA is used by the author in [16], they have done
power scheduling for a single office and have reduced the electricity cost by 34.69% and 37.47%
and PAR by 56.20% and 20.87% using GOA and BFA scheduling respectively.

Two nature inspired algorithms the MVO algorithm and sine-cosine algorithm (SCA) is used by
the author in [17], and have sown good results about the reduction of PAR, electricity cost and
maintained a desired threshold level between the electricity cost and user waiting time. In [18],
the author used mixed integer non-linear programming to reduce PAR and electricity cost. With
this method they have reduced the cost, but they do not give any importance to PAR reduction.

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In [19], the author used two nature inspired algorithms named MFO and GA. They have reduced
the PAR and electricity cost up to a greater extent but waiting time results are not good in case of
MFO algorithm, while in case of GA algorithm they have reduced the waiting time as well as
PAR but electricity cost is increased in the simulation results. Similarly in [20], the author used
BFA and GA, to make a hybrid algorithm for energy optimization. When two or more algorithms
merged to a single one, it is called hybrid algorithm. The simulation results of this algorithm
show that the cost and PAR achieved by using hybrid is less as compared to GA and BFA. While
in case of GA and BFA, the cost achieved through BFA is low as compared to GA while on the
other hand the PAR of BFA is more as compared to GA. Thus, the cost and PAR achieved
through the hybrid approach is far better and similarly the user waiting time response through
hybrid approach is also good.

In [21] order to minimize cost and PAR for the best utilization of industrial machinery, the
author employed CSA and GOA. They chose a woolen mill and offered a model and planned the
same concept. Its costs and PAR using GOA compared with CSA are good, however the waiting
time for GOA compared to CSA is very high. In [22], the authors deployed load balancing
techniques in commercial, residential and industrial regions. They showed that electricity was
compared using GA and without utilizing GA in DSM. They decreased electricity use during
peak hours by employing GA-based DSM. But the PAR and user comfort have been overlooked.

The cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) is quite effective due to its generic and robust nature in most
optimization issues. The search algorithm in cuckoos is superior to the optimization of GA and
particulate swarm (PSO). In [23], the author employed TLBOs for the schedule of devices to
reduce PAR and electricity costs, linear programming, teacher learning genetic optimization
algorithm and GA. In [24], the author applied the technique for swarm optimization and
developed algorithms for adaptive development. By employing better colony optimization, they
were working on the optimal cost delivery option for a micro grid.

In [25], the author discussed about cost reduction and storage of energy resources. They enable
the end users to store extra energy during Off-peak hours and sell them to utility during ON-peak
hours, which is a very beneficial technique for both user as well as utility. In [26], the author
used cooperative multi-swarm particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique to reduce the PAR
but they have ignored the appliances waiting time in addition to electricity cost. In [27] author

11
have discussed the importance of smart grid in future, they also highlighted some of the
optimization techniques like; Genetic algorithm (GA), Mimetic Algorithm , Particle Swarm
Optimization , Ant-Colony Optimization Algorithm , Artificial Neural Network that could be
used to solve various optimization problems. In [28], the authors have used a technique of an
automatic and optimal residential energy utilization arrangement method for the purpose to attain
lower electricity cost and PAR. Their simulation results show a significant reduction in the
electricity cost for different load scenarios. The deployments of their proposed methods are
beneficial for both users and utility. In [29], the author has taken a model of 7 different
appliances and made a arrangement mechanism for it by using GA. They have categorized the
load as flexible, inflexible and night time loads. Their simulation results show that a cost saving
of 8% and energy saving of 2% are attained.

Consumption side management (DSM) is a key function of an intelligent network that enables
end users to change their energy demand by means of several approaches. In [30], a demand-side
management strategy is employed, using renewable energy resources or distribution generators
to manufacture energy for users to minimize PAR and electricity. They loaded and used to use
their storage devices at high cost hours. This minimizes the cost of electricity and the PAR.

In[31],the author used a demand response technique, Demand response is actually a method of
shifting of load or to use the appliances in a beneficial time duration means off-peak hours, so
that the consumer would not be suffered from ON-peak hours. The author in this research
revealed that unforeseen highs were seen during off-peak hours by moving the load. They
analyzed these subsequent peak formations in conjunction with DAP (the Day ahead price)
concepts with multi-CPP (Critical Peak Pricing) and multi-TOU (time of usage pricing). In [32],
the author employed a technology for demand-side load management to boost customer
happiness at a cheap cost. To attain its purpose, the author used GA-based optimization
techniques.

In [33], the author utilized to transfer the load from ON-peak hours to OFF-peak hours and
employed multiple meta-heuristic methods, like improved differential evolution (EDE), harmony
search algorithm (HSA), bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA), and genetic algorithm (GA). They
have reduced electricity cost and PAR, but have overlooked the waiting time of the consumer.
[34] Two methods were utilized by the author: the QoE-aware Customs Saving Devices

12
Scheduling (Q-CSAS) and QoE-aware Renewable Source Power Assignment (Q-RSPA). When
no RES is implemented, simulation results demonstrate a mean energy saving by employing the
proposed approach at 22%. And it's up to 30% with RES.

In [35] the author employed 3 heuristic algorithms, namely genetic algorithm (GA), bacterial
particle swarm optimizing (BPSO) and ant colony optimization (ACO). The simulation results
demonstrate that the GA energy management controller has been more effective in reducing
power, PAR and user waiting time than the BPSO and ACO energy management controllers. In
[36], the author employed a hybrid GA and PSO to control energy and minimize the waiting time
of users in intelligent homes.

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Chapter 3 Methodology

3.1 System Model

The main use of SG energy is authorized by DSM. DR and DS Monitoring, these are the vital
reasons for users of DSM. A device model for a single functioning behaviors on and number of
users is proposed here in this study. SMs are integrated into each SH to measure each end user's
hourly energy consumption. The purpose of the smart meter is to transmit the power the
customer uses to the business, to transmit the price signal to the EMC and, as a motive for
invoicing and to provide the customer and company with each of the units. The supply of power
is connected to the EMC. There is two-way information flow and a unidirectional power flow in
EMC, both in real time [9]. We considered the collection of devices in our proposed model.
Every computer is supposed to be able to communicate with EMC utilizing our system model's
GSM module. The aim of the EMC is to plan all equipment according to the price signal
provided by the company.

Each device should complete its service in a certain time frame in order to achieve the
optimization target. Here we have two sessions in this job each morning session has its own
timing and load on every session. The following component consists of two groups of our
equipment.

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 Figure (c).System model

3.2 Classification of Load

DSM is responsible for the effective performance of SG. Through the DSM we can manage our
energy consumption and all the other activities which may takes place at the customer side. In

15
this model we will work on the scheduling of appliance for a university campus to achieve
beneficial results to handle the load schedules in a accurate way we have separated the load into
two sessions morning session and evening session. The morning session load is more separated
into classrooms, offices, labs, main hall, staff hostel, students hostel canteen and search light as
shown in the Table 1.

From the model it is evident that the campus gets a special grid line. In our proposal we
anticipated that the campus got a pricing signal from the utility that sets the equipment to fulfill
our goals.

We've split the campus into blocks as suggested. Therefore, they have non-changeable
equipment such as fans, tube lights, energy savers, exhaust fans, air conditions. In a particular
slot, all of these devices are utilized. We also have certain moving equipment such as geysers,
laboratory equipment, water pumps and water coolers. All this equipment can be moved to
another location to reduce PAR, power cost and client waiting time as required. If we do not
change this, the user will suffer during peak hours and he will be paying for utilizing little
electricity. This scheduling is beneficial for both consumer and utility. Smart meters are placed
in each apartment to compute each hour‟s power consumption, smart meters also shares the
information between the user and utility. The utility shares the price information with the users
for the required energy consumption.

In order to meet our objectives we have separated the 24-hour time horizon into morning session
and evening session. Morning session is of 8 hours from 8am to 4pm, and the evening session is
of 16 hours from 4pm to 8am, each hour represents single time slot means 8 slots and 16 slots
respectively. Shifting of these appliances is done for a purpose just to reduce the waiting time
PAR and cost. Our system architecture is shown in figure:

3.3 Appliances categorization

We have categorized our load into two groups. Group A and Group B. We call the group
A appliances as shiftable appliances and group B appliances as Non-shiftable appliances. Let
represents all the appliances so,

= + (1)

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Where signifies shiftable appliances and signifies Non-shiftable appliances. All these
appliances are scheduled in the 24-hours‟ time duration as follows:

t T, ,T={ , , …………………. }

Table 1 shows the considered loads with their respective power ratings, starting time, ending
time and LOT (length of operational time). LOT means that for how much time the respective
appliance will be operable.

Table 1. Appliances and their constraints

Time Serial Load Units Power Starting Time Finishing Time-Span Average
Sessions no. Rating ( ) ( ) Time ( ) ( - ) (h) LOT
(h)
(KW)

1. Offices 26.3 07 16 09 05
2. Labs 20.5 07 16 09 05
3. Classrooms 13.1 07 16 09 04
Morning
4. Library 4.96 07 16 09 06
session
5. Main hall 9.32 07 16 09 02
6. Wash rooms 6.3 07 16 09 06
7. Canteen 10.4 07 16 09 06
8. Staff Hostel 32.3 16 07 17 12
Evening 9. Student Hostel 33.4 16 07 17 14
session 10. Search lights 9.82 16 07 17 10
11. Canteen 11.3 16 07 17 12

3.3.1 Shiftable appliance

Those devices which may be shifted during their operational may be shifted during their
operational time as for the need. We put the appliances like Air conditions, computers, geysers,
Refrigerator in the category of shiftable appliances.

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3.3.2 Non-shiftable appliances
Those devices which cannot be transferred during their operational time Non-shiftable
devices can be used in their scheduled timing and we cannot shift them to another time slot.

We have placed appliances like; fans, classroom projectors and all the light and fans used in
classrooms, hostel and offices.

3.4 Proposed Scheduling Algorithm

To decrease the electricity price, PAR and the waiting time, researchers have optimized several
real-world problems using different optimization algorithms. In our work we have suggested
(FLA) Algorithm; a brief description of (FLA) is given below:

3.4.1 Firefly algorithm

Firefly is an insect that mostly lives in humid environment. They generate limited intensity
flashing lights of color like; green, yellow and pale-red. They employ their singular blinkering
light pattern to communicate with their partners and likely bearers, and also to provide a
protective warning system. For the hunt for other species, a number of female species apply this
light blinker. On this biome, there are about 2000 different species of fireflies.

Like every bio inspired optimization algorithm, three assumptions are to be made in firefly
algorithm:

1. All the fireflies will be of same sex.

2. The attractiveness between fireflies depends on brightness and distance between the
fireflies.
3. The higher fireflies, depending on the strength of light, will attract less bright people. In
some sense, the firefly algorithms and the bacterial foraging algorithm are similar in
some ways. In BFA, the attraction of bacteria is due in part to their fitness and distance,
but in FA; the attraction is tied to its goal function and its monotonous degradation in
attraction and distance [36]. Nature is a brilliant and enormous source of inspiration for
resolving difficult and complicated problems in computer science, Firefly algorithm is
also used in the field of image processing [37].

18
3.4.1.1 Attractiveness:

We know that in a firefly algorithm, the attractiveness depends upon the intensity of light
and the distance between two fireflies. The attractiveness between two fireflies; fireflies i and
firefly j is directly proportional to the intensity of light and inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between them;

I ( , γ, )= (1)

Where shows the intensity of flashing light at the origin and represents the distance
between firefly i and firefly j. As firefly flashing light intensity is inversely proportional to the
distance between them and it also depends on the absorption of the medium, so let‟s take the
term γ as the light absorption in a medium. So the above equation will become;

I ( , γ, )= (2)

3.4.1.2 Distance and Movement:

The distance between any two fireflies i and j in 2-D can be found by;

=√ (3)

The attractiveness of firefly i firefly to a more attractive firefly j, their movement can b found by;

= + + (rand- ) (4)

Here the term is due to attraction while the term (rand- ) is called

randomization term with a randomization parameter and rand is a random number generator.

3.4.2 Lion Algorithm

Unlike other species like cats, leopard etc. the lions are having interesting behavior to keep the
animals strong in every generation. There is a term used in Lions social system and that is pride,
in which the females live and give birth to their offspring‟s. A cub needs 2-4 years to get mature.
In between these 2-4 years, nomadic lions may try to take the pride, which is called as territorial

19
defense. To defend the territory there may start a war between the territorial lions and nomadic
lions. When the nomadic lion defeats the territorial lion, the nomadic lion kills the territorial lion
or take him out of the pride, and the nomadic lion becomes the territorial lion by killing his cubs
an taking his female and use her to give birth to his offspring‟s. Once the cubs of the pride
become mature and stronger enough to defeat the territorial lion, they attack and take their pride
back.

On basis of its nature, the Lion algorithm is composed of four major components. They are,

I. Pride Generation, which is responsible for generating solutions.

II. Mating shows to derive new solutions.
III. Territorial Defense.
IV. Territorial Takeover indicates to find new best solution if the existing solution is not
good.

The strength for the entire pride can be calculated as;

|| ||
( ) ( )
( ∑ )
( || ||) || ||

In above ( ) and ( ) is the status of male cubs and female cubs,

|| || denotes the number of male lion cubs in pride where is the age maturity of

cubs.

3.4.3 FLA
Hybrid algorithms include two or more combined algorithms that create lucrative
synergies between them. Hybridization tries, at the same time as attempting to reduce any major
disadvantages, to combine the benefits of each algorithm into a hybrid algorithm.. In general, the
results can usually increase both computing speed and accuracy with respect to the hybridization
result. In our research effort, we researched the nature and combination of fireflies and lions,
which we name hybrid fireflies and lion algorithm. We have studied these two algorithms (FLA).
The hybrid strategy has produced superior results.

20
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The key attention of our work is to reduce electricity cost, enhance the steadiness of smart grid
(decrease in Peak to Average Ratio) and reduction in waiting time for a Smart Homes.

4.1 Pricing signal

There are several pricing signals but we have used the Day ahead pricing signal (DAP) in our
simulations. See Figure (1).

Figure (1). Day ahead pricing signal [38]

4.2 Electricity Cost

Figure (3) shows the electricity cost for the Un-scheduled and scheduled (FLA, CSA, GOA,
ACO algorithm).The results shows that the electricity cost of FLA is very low as compared to
the unscheduled load cost and the other Bio-Inspired algorithms.

21
 Figure (2). Electricity cost

4.3 Peak to average power ratio (PAR)

In order to optimally plan smart appliances, PAR plays a vital role. The high PAR means that
most of the generating units stay idle during peak hours, and during the rest of the day.
Researchers are therefore trying to decrease PAR in smart grids for economic load shipping. The
unplanned and scheduled comparisons are shown in figure (4) (FLA, CSA, GOA, ACO
algorithm). The results of the simulation reveal that in PAR reduction we have also got superior
results.

22
 `

Figure (3). Peak to average power ratio

4.4 Waiting time

Time to wait plays a vital role while planning devices. Normally, the waiting time
increases as we cut the electricity cost. A user does not have to wait for an appliance on its own.
Our main purpose in this project was to lower the electricity expense of the customer, taking into
account the highest comfort of the end user. And the results of our simulation suggest that we
have reduced our waiting time by more. Figure: Figure (2). Shows the time of waiting for the
programming (FLA, CSA, GOA, ACO algorithm).

23
 Figure (4). User waiting time

4.5 Hourly Load

Figure (5) demonstrates the hourly load distribution for the Un-scheduled and scheduled (FLA,
CSA, GOA, ACO algorithm).

Figure (5). Hourly load curve

24
Figure (6) demonstrates the daily average load for the Un-scheduled and scheduled (FLA, CSA,
GOA, ACO algorithm).

Figure (6). Average load per day

4.6 Renewable energy sources (RES)

Use of Renewable energy sources plays an important role to decrease the load peaks created
during the ON-Peak hours. Also we can reduce the electricity cost up to a greater degree using
RES. We have used the RES which provide comfort to the User as well as Utility. Figure (7)
shows the RES graph;

25
 Figure (7). Renewable energy sources

Figure (8) shows that how we have utilized our RES by using them during peak hours and also
used them for charging batteries.

Figure(8). Electricity demand

26
 Conclusion and Future work

In this paper, we mapped Bio-Inspired algorithm named Firefly and Lion algorithm (FLA), for
optimal scheduling of University campus appliances in the smart grid and compared their
outcomes with presented methods of CSA, GOA and ACO. We have taken the starting and
finishing time for different appliances and they have various LOTs and power ratings for
different devices to make it more useful. We have done our simulations on a Day ahead pricing
signal. Our results shows that we have reduced the PAR up to a greater extent while there is
always a deal between electricity cost and waiting time, when cost is decreased the waiting time
increases but in our FLA we have reduced our cost without affecting waiting time much, the cost
and waiting time are very much low as compared to the other algorithms used for comparison.

In future, more Bio-inspired algorithms will be explored for further improvements in our
objectives.

27
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