On the exactness of convex relaxation for optimal power flow in tree networks

The optimal power flow problem is nonconvex, and a convex relaxation has been proposed to solve it. We prove that the relaxation is exact, if there are no upper bounds on the voltage, and any one of some conditions holds. One of these conditions requires that there is no reverse real power flow, and that the resistance to reactance ratio is non-decreasing as transmission lines spread out from the substation to the branch buses. This condition is likely to hold if there are no distributed generators. Besides, avoiding reverse real power flow can be used as rule of thumb for placing distributed generators.