Development of a measurement-based algorithm for topology detection in distribution grids

The current integration of electric vehicles into the low- and medium-voltage grid causes the possibility of voltage violations and thermal overloads in the grid. To recognise such violations, knowledge of the grid state is required. A necessity for obtaining the grid state is knowledge of the grid topology. However, in most distribution grids, no communication of the status of switches to gain knowledge of the grid topology takes place. Thus, algorithms to detect the topology of a distribution grid are required. This paper presents a measurement-based approach to detect topology changes in observable distribution grids of arbitrary structure and updates their topology. The algorithm consists of two steps: The identification and the validation of potential topology changes. It is shown that the algorithm is able to detect topology changes in distribution grids and provides the basis for application in research of the institute of energy systems, energy efficiency and energy economics (ie3) at TU Dortmund University.