Control over a Resource Source with Minimization of Its Required Capacity

Abstract

A method for searching for an optimal law of control over a limited resource source is proposed. Among the examples of sources from the considered class are capacitor-type electrical power sources, cylinder gas sources, and water towers. It is assumed that the source is divided into several sections. The sought law of control minimizes the required capacity of the source based on the rational disconnection and connection of the sections of this source to its outlet main at the calculated time moments in compliance with a known resource consumption schedule. The law of control is sought in the form of a piecewise constant time vector function, whose elements are equal to unity or zero. An example of implementation applied to the problem of control over a gas source is considered for the proposed method.