An optimal control problem for the continuity equation arising in smart charging

TL;DR

This paper develops a mathematical framework for optimally controlling the charging of large populations of electric vehicles using a mean field approach, involving coupled PDEs and proving existence and regularity of solutions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mean field control model for PEV charging with mixed states and provides existence, characterization, and regularity results for the optimal solution.

Findings

Existence of a minimizer for the control problem.

Characterization of the solution as coupled PDEs.

Regularity results for the optimal feedback control.

Abstract

This paper is focused on the mathematical modeling and solution of the optimal charging of a large population of identical plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) with mixed state variables (continuous and discrete). A mean field assumption is formulated to describe the evolution interaction of the PEVs population. The optimal control of the resulting continuity equation of the mixed system under state constraints is investigated. We prove the existence of a minimizer. We then characterize the solution as the weak solution of a system of two coupled PDEs: a continuity equation and of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation. We provide regularity results of the optimal feedback control.