Power transmission switching

• US 8,588,986 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CRA International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CRA International Incorporated
• Inventors: Rudkevich, Aleksandr, Ruiz, Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US13/405,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700/292, 700/295, 700/296
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/06 Controlling transfer of power between connected networks; Controlling sharing of load between connected networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A method for transmission network control, the transmission network being configured for use in providing electricity from a generator to an end user, the method including receiving a sensitivity parameter, identifying a switchable set of switches within the transmission network using the sensitivity parameter, determining a candidate switch from the switchable set to change a corresponding state, wherein the state can be changed from open to closed and closed to open, determining a proposed change of state of the candidate switch, updating an optimal power flow (OPF) problem as a function of the candidate switch and the proposed change of state, determining and storing in a memory a solution to the updated OPF problem, generating an updated sensitivity parameter based on the stored solution to the updated OPF problem, and determining, using the updated sensitivity parameter, if the stored solution to the updated OPF problem meets a predetermined criterion.

Claims

1. A computerized method implemented on one or more processors for transmission network control, the transmission network including transmission lines and corresponding switches, the transmission network being configured for use in providing electricity from a generator to an end user, the method comprising:

receiving and storing at the one or more processors a sensitivity parameter;

identifying, using the one or more processors, a switchable set of switches within the transmission network using the sensitivity parameter;

determining, using the one or more processors, a candidate switch from the switchable set to change a corresponding state, wherein the state can be changed from open to closed and closed to open;

determining, using the one or more processors, a proposed change of state of the candidate switch;

updating, using the one or more processors, an optimal power flow (OPF) problem stored in a memory as a function of the candidate switch and the proposed change of state;

determining, using the one or more processors, and storing in a memory a solution to the updated OPF problem;

generating, using the one or more processors, an updated sensitivity parameter based on the stored solution to the updated OPF problem; and

determining, using the updated sensitivity parameter, if the stored solution to the updated OPF problem meets a predetermined criterion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the solution to the updated OPF problem meets the predetermined criterion includes determining, using the one or more processors, if the solution to the updated OPF problem is feasible.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising reverting to a prior OPF solution if the solution to the updated OPF problem is not feasible.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the solution to the updated OPF problem meets the predetermined criterion includes determining, using the one or more processors, if the solution to the updated OPF problem results in a performance improvement of the transmission network from a prior OPF solution.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining if the solution to the updated OPF problem results in a performance improvement includes determining if an operating cost of the transmission network changes.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising iteratively performing each of the steps until a stopping criterion is satisfied.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensitivity parameter includes one of a physical sensitivity parameter, economic sensitivity parameter, and an environmental sensitivity parameter.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the updated sensitivity parameter includes generating the updated sensitivity parameter based on at least one of a locational price and a shadow price of a transmission constraint.

9. The method of claim 1:

wherein the predetermined criterion is a function of whether the solution to the updated OPF problem i) is feasible, and ii) will result in a performance improvement of the transmission network; and

the method further comprises implementing the solution to the updated OPF problem if the predetermined criterion is satisfied.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a switchable set of switches includes identifying which transmission line within the transmission network is the least profitable.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a switchable set of switches includes:

determining, using the one or more processors, price differences between end nodes of a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identifying, sing the one or more processors, which of the price differences is largest.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a switchable set of switches includes:

determining, using the one or more processors, absolute values of price differences between end nodes of a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identifying, sing the one or more processors, which of the absolute values is largest.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a switchable set of switches includes:

determining, using the one or more processors, cost derivatives associated with a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identifying, the one or more processors, the cost derivative having the most negative cost impact.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a switchable set of switches includes:

determining, using the one or more processors, power transfer distribution factors associated with a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identifying, using the one or more processors, the power transfer distribution factor having the most negative value.

15. A tangible computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by the a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a sensitivity parameter;

identify a switchable set of switches associated with transmission lines in a transmission network using the sensitivity parameter;

determine a candidate switch from the switchable set to change a corresponding state, wherein the state can be changed from open to closed and closed to open;

determine a proposed change of state of the candidate switch;

update an optimal power flow (OPF) problem as a function of the candidate switch and the proposed change of state;

determine a solution to the updated OPF problem;

generate an updated sensitivity parameter based on the solution to the updated OPF problem; and

determine, using the updated sensitivity parameter, if the solution to the updated OPF problem meets a predetermined criterion.

16. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions being further configured to cause the computer to identify which transmission line within the transmission network is the least profitable.

17. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions being further configured to cause the computer to:

determine price differences between end nodes of a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identify which of the prices differences is largest.

18. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions being further configured to cause the computer to:

determine absolute values of price differences between end nodes of a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identify which of the absolute values is largest.

19. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions being further configured to cause the computer to:

determine cost derivatives associated with a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identify the cost derivative having the most negative cost impact.

20. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions being further configured to cause the computer to:

determine power transfer distribution factors associated with a plurality of transmission lines in the transmission network; and

identify the power transfer distribution factor having the most negative value.