Abstract: Reliable, automated or semi-automated systems/methods that address technical problems involved in electrical power grid design, planning, and operation/control are disclosed. Applications include the technical problem of optimizing adjustments of, and/or infrastructure additions to, large electrical power grids in response to changed operating conditions or planned facility additions that may impact their reliability. An automated or semi-automated system for identifying appropriate adjustments to the electrical power grid and/or addition of new facilities, and the methods and executable computer instructions that enable them, are disclosed.

Abstract: Reliable, automated or semi-automated systems/methods that address technical problems involved in electrical power grid design, planning, and operation/control are disclosed. Applications include the technical problem of optimizing adjustments of, and/or infrastructure additions to, large electrical power grids in response to changed operating conditions or planned facility additions that may impact their reliability. An automated or semi-automated system for identifying appropriate adjustments to the electrical power grid and/or addition of new facilities, and the methods and executable computer instructions that enable them, are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of calculating optimal power flows (OPFs) in power transmission and distribution networks using equivalent-circuit formulations that allow the solutions to converge to corresponding global minima. In some aspects, network (circuit) elements are modeled using split circuits composed of real and imaginary parts. A variety of nonlinear OPF problem formulations are disclosed, including direct-solution formulations and iterative-solution formulations based on converting real and reactive power constraints to equivalent conductance/susceptance constraint. Also disclosed are a variety of techniques for solving the disclosed OPF problems, including new admittance-stepping homotopy techniques, among others. Software embodying disclosed methods is also described, as are example implementation scenarios.

Abstract: An approach to modeling the nonlinear steady-state behavior of an electrical power grid in terms of equivalent circuits with currents and voltages as state variables is provided. Current and voltage conservation equations are formulated with circuit-theoretic algorithms that offer demonstrably superior robustness relative to traditional approaches. Generalized bus and line models are accommodated by the equivalent circuit-based approach, allowing for simulation of physical models not compatible with traditional methods. Unbalanced three-phase systems are handled without loss of generality. The provided methods allow for robust, efficient power flow simulation for contingency analysis, power system planning, power system design, power system control, component configurations and operating conditions, real-time scheduling, and optimization, among other applications.