A Voronoi Diagram-Based Approach for AC Optimal Power Flow

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel Voronoi diagram-based method for solving AC Optimal Power Flow problems, enhancing solution accuracy by strategically sampling the search space and iteratively refining solutions.

Contribution

It proposes a new sampling and iterative refinement approach using Voronoi diagrams for AC OPF, improving solution quality and computational efficiency.

Findings

Validated on IEEE 9-bus, 39-bus, and 118-bus systems.

Achieved high-quality solutions with efficient sampling.

Demonstrated effectiveness compared to traditional methods.

Abstract

The primary goal of Optimal Power Flow (OPF) is to optimize the operation of a power system while meeting the demand and adhering to operational constraints. This paper presents a new approach for AC OPF. First, the approach constructs a Voronoi diagram by distributing multiple sample points representing potential solutions throughout the search space. Then, it recursively adds new sample points including a tentative optimal point from the continuous gradient-projection method, a point in the most sparsely populated region to ensure high fidelity, and the connecting point, until the stopping criterion is met. The proposed approach is illustrated in detail using the IEEE 9-bus system and then validated on the IEEE 39-bus and 118-bus systems to verify the quality of the obtained solution.