METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND SYSTEM PROVIDING REAL-TIME POWER GRID HYPOTHESIS TESTING AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING

• US 20150006128A1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Enenkel, Robert F., Perrone, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 11,093,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/06 Power analysis or power optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/367 Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A method is disclosed to simulate operation of a grid structure. The method includes specifying a type of simulation to be performed and at least one initial condition with a user interface of a device such as a mobile device, where the grid structure comprises at least one of a power generation grid and a power distribution grid. The method further includes transmitting the specified type of simulation and the at least one initial condition from the user device to a computing platform; receiving from the computing platform a result of the simulation at the user device; and visualizing the result of the simulation with the user interface. The type of simulation can be an N-k contingency analysis simulation, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater than 1.

Claims

1. A method to simulate operation of a grid structure, comprising:

specifying a type of simulation to be performed and at least one initial condition with a user interface of a user device;

transmitting the specified type of simulation and the at least one initial condition from the user device to a computing platform;

receiving from the computing platform a result of the simulation at the user device, where the simulation is based on at least one of a steady state model of the grid structure and a dynamical model of the grid structure; and

visualizing the result of the simulation with the user interface, where a visual representation of the result shows a result of the simulation of at least one scenario, and where visualizing comprises displaying a multi-dimensional representation comprised of indicators, where each indicator corresponds to at least one simulation result, and further comprising upon a selection of one of the indicators visualizing a result of the simulation of the corresponding simulation result or results.

2. The method of claim 1, where the grid structure comprises at least one of a power transmission grid and a power distribution grid.

3. The method of claim 2, where the type of simulation comprises an N-k contingency analysis simulation, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater than 1, where binomial coefficient N choose k scenarios are generated, and each scenario has k generators and/or branches disabled.

4. The method of claim 1, where the simulation enables real-time or near real-time operation of the grid structure to be monitored and simulated.

5. The method of claim 2, where visualizing comprises a visualization of at least one of power flow, generation or demand of the grid structure comprising one or more of active and reactive power flow, generation or demands, phase angles, maximum, average, or minimum values and other parameters of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to interact with at least one running simulation by visualizing real-time grid data or evolving simulation data, and to request additional simulation detail as needed based on evolution of a real-time visualization.

7. The method of claim 1, where specifying the simulation comprises an initial setup that comprises at least one of a selection of initial grid states for the simulation and a selection of grid structure variations whose effect on the grid structure is to be simulated, where initial grid states can be based on historical grid structure data or on real-time grid structure data captured at least in part by sensors.

8. The method of claim 1, where visualizing comprises providing periodic visualization updates as simulation results become available, and further comprising enabling a user to interact with a running simulation to modify a future path of the simulation based on the visualization.

9. The method of claim 8, where interacting with a running simulation enables the user to prune a simulation scenario space in order to concentrate available computing power on simulation paths of interest to the user.

10. The method of claim 1, where specifying the simulation comprises selecting from a visualization of the grid structure individual nodes or branches of the grid structure or selecting at least one region of the grid structure that includes multiple nodes or branches, and further comprises providing a user an ability to selectively add at least one element to the grid structure or to selective remove at least one element from the grid structure or to selectively replace at least one existing element with another element.

11. The method of claim 1, where the visualization is comprised of graphical-type images and also alpha-numeric information for further specifying a result of a simulation or simulations.

12. The method of claim 1, where visualizing displays a graphical representation of a state of the grid structure or grid structure simulation at past, current or future times, and responds to activation of a user input device to direct and control operation of the simulation including setup, run time and analysis.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising visualizing a difference between results of at least two simulations of the grid structure.

14. The method of claim 1, where specifying a type of simulation causes multiple simulation scenarios to be specified, and further comprises selecting a starting simulation scenario, a number of simulation scenarios to be generated, and specifying at least one rule to be applied for generating the multiple simulation scenarios.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending in response to a user input a command to the grid structure in order to change a state of at least one grid structure actuator.

16. The method of claim 1, where the user device is comprised of a mobile device that is connectable to the computing platform via at least one wireless interface.

17. The method of claim 1, performed as a result of execution of computer program instructions stored in a computer-readable medium by a data processor, where the computer-readable medium and the data processor comprise a part of the user device.

18-20. -20. (canceled)