Integrated Two-Stage Scheduling Framework for Compressor Units via a Hybrid Algorithm and Dynamic Programming

Electrically driven compressors are a primary energy consumer in natural gas storage facilities. Formulating an optimal gas injection allocation strategy considering their nonlinear characteristics and time-of-use (TOU) electricity prices is crucial. However, single-model optimizations struggle with this due to high dimensionality and strongly coupled variables. To overcome these challenges, we propose a two-stage “instantaneous load allocation—day-ahead scheduling” framework. Stage I employs a hybrid algorithm (ICSA-WOA) to optimize load allocations across various flow rates, generating a lookup table that effectively decouples the underlying physical model. Stage II utilizes this table alongside TOU prices to perform rapid day-ahead scheduling via dynamic programming (DP). Results demonstrate that ICSA-WOA achieves superior comprehensive performance compared to seven classical swarm intelligence algorithms. Furthermore, joint optimization of the pressure ratio and load via ICSA-WOA reduces the total power consumption by 9.7–10.9% relative to traditional fixed-ratio modes. Most significantly, while rigorously ensuring daily injection targets and safety, the proposed method reduces daily electricity costs by 3.3–14.2% compared to single-model approaches, providing a reasonable strategy for economic gas storage operations.