Power System State Estimation Using Potential Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional state estimation methods for power systems often fail to enforce feasibility constraints, leading to unrealistic power output estimates, particularly in distribution systems with lower telemetry redundancy and data quality.

Innovation Solution

The method employs parameterized potential functions, specifically quadratic functions, to convert constrained optimization problems into unconstrained convex optimization problems, ensuring that nodal metrics in power systems are constrained to feasible values by updating center-of-attraction parameters to satisfy equality and inequality constraints within a tolerance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional state estimation methods (unconstrained WLS or equality-constrained WLS) are used, then the solution can be obtained efficiently, but the feasibility constraints on power injection are not enforced, leading to unrealistic estimates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeasibility of power injection estimatesVSAvoidcomplexity of optimization problem
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the equality constraints from the constrained optimization problem and incorporates them into the objective function through parameterized potential functions. This transforms the constrained problem into an unconstrained one, maintaining feasibility while simplifying the solution approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces parameterized potential functions with adjustable parameters that transform the constrained optimization problem into an unconstrained one. By changing the problem formulation from constrained to unconstrained while embedding constraint satisfaction within the objective function, the method achieves both feasibility and computational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If equality constraints are enforced in state estimation, then power injection feasibility is improved, but the optimization problem becomes more complex and harder to solve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of nodal metric constraintsVSAvoiddifficulty of solving optimization problem
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical constraint enforcement mechanism (equality constraints in optimization) with a potential field-based approach. By substituting the constraint structure with parameterized potential functions, the method maintains constraint satisfaction while enabling the use of simpler unconstrained optimization algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If distribution systems with lower telemetry redundancy are used, then system deployment is more feasible, but state estimation accuracy deteriorates due to lower data quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicability to distribution systemsVSAvoidquality of state estimation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the problem formulation from constrained to unconstrained optimization with parameterized potential functions. This transformation makes the method more adaptable to distribution systems with limited telemetry while maintaining estimation accuracy by embedding constraint satisfaction within the objective function, preventing unrealistic estimates even with lower data quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4318845A1State estimation for a power system using parameterized potential functions for equality constraints
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 HITACHI ENERGY LTD
  • EP4318845A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4318845A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4318845A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Prior methods of state estimation, based on a constrained optimization problem with equality and/or inequality constraints, rely on penalty-based heuristics which can produce very large weight values, resulting in ill-conditioning of the gain matrix. Disclosed embodiments of state estimation convert the constrained optimization problem into an unconstrained convex optimization problem in which violated equality and/or inequality constraints are represented as parameterized potential functions, each comprising a center-of-attraction parameter. This unconstrained convex optimization problem can be iteratively formed, using successively updated values for the center-of-attraction parameters, and solved, until no equality and/or inequality constraints are violated, to produce a final estimated state. This final estimated state may then be used to control the system being monitored, such as a power system.