Global data prefetching using BitTorrent for distributed smart grid control

This paper presents initial development in the search for alternative strategies for agent-based distributed control algorithms based on decoupling time-critical operations from the bulk of inter-agent communication. Agents retain autonomy from any central authority; each maintains a global view of the system and solves the global problem locally, reducing the need for communication during time-critical operations. Global data pre-fetching can be relegated to a more relaxed schedule similar to that of energy dispatch, where communication link reliability and bandwidth are much easier to manage. Depending on the size of the system as well as the speed and reliability of the communication links, such strategies might provide better performance and reliability than agent-local view strategies. An agent-based test bed setup and an example of a power flow solver are presented.