Distributed Computing Architecture for Optimal Control of Distribution Feeders With Smart Loads

This paper presents a distributed computing architecture for solving a distribution optimal power flow (DOPF) model based on a smart grid communication middleware (SGCM) system. The system is modeled as an unbalanced three-phase distribution system, which includes different kind of loads and various components of distribution systems. In this paper, fixed loads are modeled as constant impedance, current and power loads, and neural network models of controllable smart loads are integrated into the DOPF model. A genetic algorithm is used to determine the optimal solutions for controllable devices, in particular load tap changers, switched capacitors, and smart loads in the context of an energy management system for practical feeders, accounting for the fact that smart loads consumption should not be significantly affected by network constraints. Since the number of control variables in a realistic distribution power system is large, solving the DOPF for real-time applications is computationally expensive. Hence, to reduce computational times, a decentralized system with parallel computing nodes based on an SGCM system is proposed. Using a “MapReduce” model, the SGCM system runs the DOPF model, communicates between master and worker computing nodes, and sends/receives data among different parts of parallel computing system. Compared to a centralized approach, the proposed architecture is shown to yield better optimal solutions in terms of reducing energy losses and/or energy drawn from the substation within adequate practical run-times for a realistic test feeder.