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Real-time optimization of power system for voltage collapse mitigation

Manifold optimisation is a powerful new paradigm for the optimization of power systems and an active research area at the Power Systems Lab and the Automatic Control Lab at ETH. Taking a geometric viewpoint sheds a new light on existing problems such as frequency and voltage control, the integration of renewable energy sources, and raises new questions about voltage collapse prevention and controllability under critical conditions.

In this project, we focus in particular on the goal of voltage collapse prevention. Voltage instability, and collapse, happens when the capacity of the grid is reached, and there is no solution of the power flow equations that can support the desired power transfer from generators to loads. Voltage instability is difficult to detect, let alone to prevent, and leads to undervoltage phenomena, load shedding, and blackouts.

The aim is to simulate the effect of previously developed online optimization algorithms with respect to voltage instability. Information about the distance to voltage collapse can be integrated in the real-time optimization framework described above, and ultimately drive the power system away from voltage instability. In this project, the proposed approach will mainly evaluated in simulations. Time permitting, providing mathematical justification will an additional objective of the project.

Previous work in this field done at IfA include: [1], [2]

The student should have a good background in power system models (both steady-state and dynamical). The student should also have good MATLAB skills and a ``getting-things-done''-mentality towards programming. Exposure to mathematical optimization techniques is beneficial.