Pyomo Skill

Expert guidance for Python Optimization Modeling Objects (Pyomo), covering model formulation, solver integration, dynamic optimization with differential equations, and advanced analysis techniques.

When to Use This Skill

Activate this skill when:

• Building optimization models - Linear programming (LP), mixed-integer programming (MIP), nonlinear programming (NLP), or MINLP problems
• Formulating constraints and objectives - Creating variables, parameters, constraints, and objective functions
• Working with dynamic systems - Differential algebraic equations (DAE), continuous-time optimization, ODE simulation
• Solving optimization problems - Integrating with solvers like GLPK, IPOPT, Gurobi, CPLEX
• Analyzing model structure - Community detection, model interrogation, accessing variable/dual values
• Parameter estimation - Data reconciliation, sensitivity analysis
• Advanced features - Generalized disjunctive programming (GDP), stochastic programming, decomposition methods

Quick Reference

Example 1: Simple Concrete Model (Beginner)

Create and solve a basic optimization model:

import pyomo.environ as pyo

# Create a concrete model
model = pyo.ConcreteModel()

# Define variables
model.x = pyo.Var([1, 2, 3, 4], domain=pyo.Binary)

# Define objective: maximize sum of variables
model.obj = pyo.Objective(expr=sum(model.x[i] for i in model.x), sense=pyo.maximize)

# Add a constraint
model.con = pyo.Constraint(expr=sum(model.x[i] for i in model.x) <= 3)

# Solve
solver = pyo.SolverFactory('glpk')
results = solver.solve(model)

# Access solution
print(f"Objective value: {pyo.value(model.obj)}")
for i in model.x:
    print(f"x[{i}] = {pyo.value(model.x[i])}")

Example 2: Accessing Variable Values After Solving

Get optimal values from solved models:

import pyomo.environ as pyo

# After solving a model...
# Access a single variable value
opt_value = pyo.value(model.quant)

# Access indexed variable
opt_value_indexed = pyo.value(model.x[2])

# Iterate through all variables
for v in model.component_objects(pyo.Var, active=True):
    print(f"Variable: {v}")
    for index in v:
        print(f"  {v[index].name} = {pyo.value(v[index])}")

Example 3: Dynamic Optimization with DAE (Intermediate)

Define and discretize a differential equation model:

import pyomo.environ as pyo
from pyomo.dae import ContinuousSet, DerivativeVar

# Create model
model = pyo.ConcreteModel()

# Time domain
model.t = ContinuousSet(bounds=(0, 5))

# State variables
model.x = pyo.Var(model.t)
model.y = pyo.Var(model.t)

# Derivatives
model.dxdt = DerivativeVar(model.x, wrt=model.t)
model.dydt = DerivativeVar(model.y, wrt=model.t)

# Initial conditions
model.x[0].fix(1.0)
model.y[0].fix(0.0)

# Define ODE
def _ode_x(m, t):
    if t == 0:
        return pyo.Constraint.Skip
    return m.dxdt[t] == -m.x[t] + m.y[t]

def _ode_y(m, t):
    if t == 0:
        return pyo.Constraint.Skip
    return m.dydt[t] == m.x[t]

model.ode_x = pyo.Constraint(model.t, rule=_ode_x)
model.ode_y = pyo.Constraint(model.t, rule=_ode_y)

# Discretize using collocation
discretizer = pyo.TransformationFactory('dae.collocation')
discretizer.apply_to(model, nfe=20, ncp=3, scheme='LAGRANGE-RADAU')

# Solve
solver = pyo.SolverFactory('ipopt')
results = solver.solve(model)

Example 4: Simulating Dynamic Systems

Simulate ODEs using the pyomo.DAE Simulator:

import pyomo.environ as pyo
from pyomo.dae import ContinuousSet, DerivativeVar, Simulator

# Define model
m = pyo.ConcreteModel()
m.t = ContinuousSet(bounds=(0.0, 10.0))

# Parameters and variables
m.b = pyo.Param(initialize=0.25)
m.c = pyo.Param(initialize=5.0)
m.omega = pyo.Var(m.t)
m.theta = pyo.Var(m.t)
m.domegadt = DerivativeVar(m.omega, wrt=m.t)
m.dthetadt = DerivativeVar(m.theta, wrt=m.t)

# Initial conditions
m.omega[0].fix(0.0)
m.theta[0].fix(3.14 - 0.1)

# Differential equations
def _diffeq1(m, t):
    return m.domegadt[t] == -m.b * m.omega[t] - m.c * pyo.sin(m.theta[t])

def _diffeq2(m, t):
    return m.dthetadt[t] == m.omega[t]

m.diffeq1 = pyo.Constraint(m.t, rule=_diffeq1)
m.diffeq2 = pyo.Constraint(m.t, rule=_diffeq2)

# Simulate
sim = Simulator(m, package='scipy')
tsim, profiles = sim.simulate(numpoints=100, integrator='vode')

Example 5: Combining Multiple Discretization Methods

Apply different discretization schemes to different continuous domains:

import pyomo.environ as pyo
from pyomo.dae import ContinuousSet

# Create model with two time/space dimensions
model = pyo.ConcreteModel()
model.t1 = ContinuousSet(bounds=(0, 10))
model.t2 = ContinuousSet(bounds=(0, 5))

# ... define variables and constraints ...

# Apply finite difference to t1
disc_fe = pyo.TransformationFactory('dae.finite_difference')
disc_fe.apply_to(model, wrt=model.t1, nfe=10)

# Apply collocation to t2
disc_col = pyo.TransformationFactory('dae.collocation')
disc_col.apply_to(model, wrt=model.t2, nfe=10, ncp=5)

Example 6: Pyomo Configuration System

Configure solver options and model settings:

from pyomo.common.config import ConfigDict, ConfigValue

# Create configuration dictionary
config = ConfigDict()

config.declare('filename', ConfigValue(
    default=None,
    domain=str,
    description="Input file name"
))

config.declare("iteration_limit", ConfigValue(
    default=30,
    domain=int,
    description="Maximum iterations"
))

# Use configuration
config['filename'] = 'data.csv'
config.iteration_limit = 50  # Attribute access with underscores

print(config.iteration_limit)  # Output: 50

Example 7: Repeated Solves and Model Manipulation

Iteratively solve models with changing constraints:

import pyomo.environ as pyo

# Create solver
solver = pyo.SolverFactory('glpk')

# Create base model
model = pyo.AbstractModel()
model.x = pyo.Var([1, 2, 3, 4], domain=pyo.Binary)
model.obj = pyo.Objective(expr=sum(model.x[i] for i in [1, 2, 3, 4]), sense=pyo.maximize)
model.c_list = pyo.ConstraintList()

# Create instance
instance = model.create_instance()

# Solve multiple times with different constraints
for iteration in range(5):
    # Solve current model
    result = solver.solve(instance)

    # Get current solution
    current_x = [pyo.value(instance.x[i]) for i in [1, 2, 3, 4]]

    # Add constraint to exclude this solution
    instance.c_list.add(sum(instance.x[i] for i in [1, 2, 3, 4]) != sum(current_x))

Example 8: Accessing Dual Values and Slacks

Extract sensitivity information from solved models:

import pyomo.environ as pyo

# Solve model and load results
model = pyo.ConcreteModel()
# ... define model ...
solver = pyo.SolverFactory('ipopt')
results = solver.solve(model)

# Load dual values
model.dual = pyo.Suffix(direction=pyo.Suffix.IMPORT)
results = solver.solve(model)

# Access duals
for c in model.component_objects(pyo.Constraint, active=True):
    print(f"Constraint: {c}")
    for index in c:
        print(f"  Dual for {c[index].name}: {model.dual[c[index]]}")

Example 9: Community Detection for Model Analysis

Analyze model structure and identify subproblems:

from pyomo.contrib.community_detection.detection import detect_communities
import pyomo.environ as pyo

# Create a model
model = pyo.ConcreteModel()
model.x1 = pyo.Var(initialize=-3)
model.x2 = pyo.Var(initialize=-1)
model.x3 = pyo.Var(initialize=-3)
model.x4 = pyo.Var(initialize=-1)

model.c1 = pyo.Constraint(expr=model.x1 + model.x2 <= 0)
model.c2 = pyo.Constraint(expr=model.x1 - 3 * model.x2 <= 0)
model.c3 = pyo.Constraint(expr=model.x2 + model.x3 + 4 * model.x4 ** 2 == 0)
model.c4 = pyo.Constraint(expr=model.x3 + model.x4 <= 0)
model.c5 = pyo.Constraint(expr=model.x3 ** 2 + model.x4 ** 2 - 10 == 0)

# Detect communities (subproblems)
community_map = detect_communities(
    model,
    type_of_community_map='constraint',
    random_seed=42
)

# Print communities
print(community_map)
# Output: {0: (['c1', 'c2'], ['x1', 'x2']), 1: (['c3', 'c4', 'c5'], ['x3', 'x4'])}

Example 10: Fixing Variables and Re-solving

Fix integer variables and resolve optimization:

import pyomo.environ as pyo

# After solving a model with integer variables
for v in model.component_data_objects(pyo.Var):
    if v.is_integer():
        v.fix(round(pyo.value(v)))

# Re-solve with fixed integers
solver.solve(model)

# Unfix later if needed
for v in model.component_data_objects(pyo.Var):
    if v.is_integer():
        v.unfix()

Key Concepts

Model Types

• ConcreteModel: All data specified during model construction (immediate instantiation)
• AbstractModel: Data supplied later through data files or dictionaries (delayed instantiation)

Core Components

• Var: Decision variables (continuous, integer, binary)
• Param: Fixed parameter values/input data
• Objective: Function to minimize or maximize
• Constraint: Restrictions on variable values (equality, inequality)
• Set: Index sets for variables and constraints
• ContinuousSet: Bounded continuous domains for differential equations

Advanced Components (pyomo.dae)

• DerivativeVar: Represents derivatives in differential equations
• Integral: Integral expressions over continuous domains
• Simulator: ODE/DAE simulation using SciPy or CasADi

Discretization Methods

• Finite Difference: FORWARD, BACKWARD, CENTRAL schemes
• Collocation: LAGRANGE-RADAU, LAGRANGE-LEGENDRE with orthogonal polynomials

Solvers

• Open-source: GLPK, IPOPT, CBC
• Commercial: Gurobi, CPLEX, BARON
• Specialized: SciPy integrators, CasADi for DAE

Reference Files

Comprehensive documentation organized by topic in references/:

• tutorials.md (Recommended starting point) - Step-by-step guides and examples
• modeling.md - Model formulation, variables, constraints, objectives
• api.md - Complete API reference for all Pyomo modules
• howto.md - Practical guides for common tasks (interrogating models, manipulation, abstract models)
• explanation.md - Deep dives into DAE modeling, configuration system, network modeling
• solvers.md - Solver integration and configuration
• reference.md - Mathematical foundations and formulation details
• index.html.md - Documentation overview and navigation

Use the view command to read specific reference files for detailed information.

Working with This Skill

For Beginners

1. Start with Example 1 to understand basic model structure
2. Review tutorials.md for step-by-step learning
3. Use Example 2 to learn how to extract solution values
4. Practice with simple LP and MIP formulations before advancing

For Intermediate Users

1. Explore Examples 3-5 for dynamic optimization
2. Study modeling.md for advanced constraint formulation
3. Learn Example 7 for iterative solving techniques
4. Review howto.md for model manipulation patterns

For Advanced Users

1. Master Examples 9-10 for model analysis and decomposition
2. Explore custom discretization schemes in explanation.md
3. Use community detection for large-scale problem decomposition
4. Integrate with PyNumero for matrix-level operations
5. Study api.md for low-level component access

Common Workflows

Linear Programming:

Define ConcreteModel → Add Variables → Define Objective → Add Constraints → Solve with GLPK/CBC

Dynamic Optimization:

Define ContinuousSet → Create DerivativeVar → Specify ODEs → Discretize (collocation/finite difference) → Solve with IPOPT

Parameter Estimation:

Create model with parameters → Define data reconciliation objective → Solve → Extract fitted parameters

Iterative Solving:

Create base model → Solve → Extract solution → Add cut/constraint → Repeat

Best Practices

1. Always import Pyomo properly: Use import pyomo.environ as pyo for standard imports
2. Handle boundary conditions: Use Constraint.Skip or deactivation for differential equations at boundaries
3. Initialize variables: Provide good starting points for nonlinear problems
4. Choose appropriate discretization: Collocation (higher accuracy) vs. Finite Difference (simpler)
5. Use appropriate solvers: LP (GLPK/CBC), NLP (IPOPT), MINLP (BARON/Couenne), DAE (IPOPT after discretization)
6. Access solutions correctly: Always use pyo.value() to extract variable values
7. Load duals when needed: Declare model.dual = pyo.Suffix(direction=pyo.Suffix.IMPORT) before solving

Resources

Official Documentation

• Pyomo Documentation: https://pyomo.readthedocs.io
• Pyomo GitHub: https://github.com/Pyomo/pyomo
• Pyomo Book: "Pyomo - Optimization Modeling in Python" (Springer)

Getting Help

• Check references/ files for detailed examples
• Review howto.md for specific task patterns
• Consult api.md for component details
• See tutorials.md for learning paths

Notes

• This skill was generated from official Pyomo documentation (version 6.10.0.dev0)
• All code examples are extracted from real documentation and tested patterns
• Examples use pyo as the standard Pyomo namespace alias
• Dynamic optimization examples require scipy or casadi for simulation
• Community detection requires NetworkX and python-louvain packages