Approaches to iterative algorithms for solving nonlinear equations with an application in tomographic absorption spectroscopy

In this paper we propose an approach for solving systems of nonlinear equations without computing function derivatives. Motivated by the application area of tomographic absorption spectroscopy, which is a highly-nonlinear problem with variables coupling, we consider a situation where straightforward translation to a fixed point problem is not possible because the operators that represent the … Read more

Extended Formulations for Control Languages Defined by Finite-State Automata

Many discrete optimal control problems feature combinatorial constraints on the possible switching patterns, a common example being minimum dwell-time constraints. After discretizing to a finite time grid, for these and many similar types of constraints, it is possible to give a description of the convex hull of feasible (finite-dimensional) binary controls via extended formulations. In … Read more

A Sequential Benders-based Mixed-Integer Quadratic Programming Algorithm

For continuous decision spaces, nonlinear programs (NLPs) can be efficiently solved via sequential quadratic programming (SQP) and, more generally, sequential convex programming (SCP). These algorithms linearize only the nonlinear equality constraints and keep the outer convex structure of the problem intact, such as (conic) inequality constraints or convex objective terms. The aim of the presented … Read more

Adjustable Robust Nonlinear Network Design Without Controllable Elements under Load Scenario Uncertainties

We study network design problems for nonlinear and nonconvex flow models without controllable elements under load scenario uncertainties, i.e., under uncertain injections and withdrawals. To this end, we apply the concept of adjustable robust optimization to compute a network design that admits a feasible transport for all, possibly infinitely many, load scenarios within a given … Read more

Frequency regulation with storage: On losses and profits

Low-carbon societies will need to store vast amounts of electricity to balance intermittent generation from wind and solar energy, for example, through frequency regulation. Here, we derive an analytical solution to the decision-making problem of storage operators who sell frequency regulation power to grid operators and trade electricity on day-ahead markets. Mathematically, we treat future … Read more

Black-box optimization for the design of a jet plate for impingement cooling

In this work we show how exploiting black-box optimization in the design of a cooling system for a nozzle in a gas turbine. We develop a black-box function that simulates an impingement cooling system starting from a well-known model that correlates the design features of the cooling system with efficiency parameters. We also provide a … Read more

Accurate and Warm-Startable Linear Cutting-Plane Relaxations for ACOPF

We present a linear cutting-plane relaxation approach that rapidly proves tight lower bounds for the Alternating Current Optimal Power Flow Problem (ACOPF). Our method leverages outer-envelope linear cuts for well-known second-order cone relaxations for ACOPF along with modern cut management techniques. These techniques prove effective on a broad family of ACOPF instances, including the largest … Read more

Using Filter Methods to Guide Convergence for ADMM, with Applications to Nonnegative Matrix Factorization Problems

Nonconvex, nonlinear cost functions arise naturally in physical inverse problems and machine learning. The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) has seen extensive use in these applications, despite exhibiting uncertain convergence behavior in many practical nonconvex settings, and struggling with general nonlinear constraints. In contrast, filter methods have proved effective in enforcing convergence for sequential … Read more

Optimization Over Trained Neural Networks: Taking a Relaxing Walk

Besides training, mathematical optimization is also used in deep learning to model and solve formulations over trained neural networks for purposes such as verification, compression, and optimization with learned constraints. However, solving these formulations soon becomes difficult as the network size grows due to the weak linear relaxation and dense constraint matrix. We have seen … Read more

Design Guidelines for Noise-Tolerant Optimization with Applications in Robust Design

The development of nonlinear optimization algorithms capable of performing reliably in the presence of noise has garnered considerable attention lately. This paper advocates for strategies to create noise-tolerant nonlinear optimization algorithms by adapting classical deterministic methods. These adaptations follow certain design guidelines described here, which make use of estimates of the noise level in the … Read more