Application of Harmony Search Algorithm to Reservoir Operation Optimization

In this study, a meta-heuristic technique called harmony search (HS) algorithm is developed for reservoir operation optimization with respect to flood control. The HS algorithm is used to minimize the water supply deficit and flood damages downstream of a reservoir. The GIS database is used to determine the flood damage functions. The efficacy of HS algorithm is evaluated in comparison with other techniques by using a benchmark problem for a single reservoir operation optimization problem. HS showed promising results in terms of speed of convergence to an optimal objective function value compared with other techniques such as honey-bee mating optimization (HBMO) and a global optimization model (LINGO 8.0 NLP solver). The HS algorithm is then applied to the Narmab reservoir, north of Iran, as a case study. Narmab reservoir serves multiple purposes including irrigation, flood control, and drinking water requirements. The developed model is applied for monthly operation. The results show that the HS algorithm can be effectively used for operation of reservoir for flood management.