META: An Algorithm for the Analysis of Multilevel Energy Transport Systems

A methodology for the study of deficiencies in large interconnected energy systems is presented. The solution to such problems involves the identification of strategies for the transfer of energy from available sources and over identified paths to the deficiency in the network. The two principal results presented are a procedure for the construction of a hierarchy of networks from a given network and an algorithm designated META (multilevel energy transport algorithm). META accepts this representation of the network as input, and by the application of backtrack programming techniques and an adaptation of the basic max flow algorithm from flow network theory develops a collection of alternative strategies for the resolution of the energy deficiency.