Cross-layer Design for Real-Time Grid Operation: Estimation, Optimization and Power Flow

TL;DR

This paper introduces a real-time grid operation method combining online feedback optimization and dynamic estimation, ensuring operational constraints are met while efficiently solving the AC optimal power flow problem.

Contribution

It presents a novel combined approach of OFO and dynamic estimation with real-time power flow approximation, validated for stability and effectiveness in dynamic conditions.

Findings

Guarantees grid operational constraints like voltage limits

Efficient real-time power flow approximation

Validated stability and convergence in simulations

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a combined Online Feedback Optimization (OFO) and dynamic estimation approach for a real-time power grid operation under time-varying conditions. A dynamic estimation uses grid measurements to generate the information required by an OFO controller, that incrementally steers the controllable power injections set-points towards the solutions of a time-varying AC Optimal Power Flow (AC-OPF) problem. More concretely, we propose a quadratic programming-based OFO that guarantees satisfying the grid operational constraints, like admissible voltage limits. Within the estimation, we design an online power flow solver that efficiently computes power flow approximations in real time. Finally, we certify the stability and convergence of this combined approach under time-varying conditions, and we validate its effectiveness on a simulation with a test feeder and high resolution consumption data.