William D. Wheeless

Definition

William D. Wheeless is a notable figure in the field of electric power systems, particularly recognized for his contributions to understanding economic dispatch and unit commitment in power generation. His work has significantly influenced how utilities optimize their generation resources while minimizing costs and meeting demand. This involves strategies that balance economic efficiency with reliability, ensuring that the most cost-effective generation units are utilized to meet the required load.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Wheeless's research has helped shape methodologies that assist utility companies in making informed decisions about resource allocation and operational strategies.
2. He emphasized the importance of incorporating both short-term and long-term factors in the decision-making process for energy management.
3. Wheeless contributed to developing algorithms and models that improve the efficiency of economic dispatch and unit commitment processes.
4. His work is essential for balancing reliability and cost-effectiveness in modern power systems, especially as renewable energy sources become more prevalent.
5. Understanding Wheeless's principles allows utility operators to adapt to changing market conditions and regulatory requirements.

Review Questions

• How did William D. Wheeless's work impact the methodologies used in economic dispatch?
  • William D. Wheeless's contributions fundamentally changed how economic dispatch is approached by emphasizing the integration of various optimization techniques. His work introduced new algorithms that enable utilities to efficiently determine the optimal operation of multiple generation units under varying conditions. This has led to more reliable and cost-effective electricity generation, ensuring that utilities can meet consumer demand without incurring unnecessary costs.
• Discuss the significance of unit commitment in the context of Wheeless's principles and how it affects overall system reliability.
  • Unit commitment is crucial for ensuring that sufficient generating capacity is available when needed, which aligns closely with Wheeless's principles. His focus on optimizing unit commitment strategies allows utilities to schedule generation resources effectively, reducing operational costs while maintaining reliability. By strategically deciding which units to turn on or off, utilities can avoid blackouts and ensure a stable power supply, ultimately benefiting consumers and the grid as a whole.
• Evaluate how advancements in technology have influenced the application of Wheeless's theories on economic dispatch and unit commitment in today's power systems.
  • Advancements in technology have significantly enhanced the application of Wheeless's theories by allowing for real-time data analysis and improved modeling capabilities. Smart grid technologies facilitate better load forecasting and enable dynamic adjustments to generation schedules based on real-time demand and supply fluctuations. These innovations not only optimize economic dispatch but also improve resilience against outages and enhance the integration of renewable energy sources, reflecting Wheeless’s emphasis on evolving methodologies in power system management.

Related terms

Economic Dispatch: The process of determining the optimal output of multiple generation units to meet a specific load while minimizing production costs.

Unit Commitment: The scheduling of generating units to be online at specific times to ensure sufficient capacity is available to meet expected demand.

Load Forecasting: The technique used to predict future electricity demand based on historical data and various influencing factors.