Smart Grid Optimization Using a Capacitated Transshipment Problem Solver
Abstract
A network flow model known as the capacitated transshipment problem, or CTP, can represent key aspects of a smart grid test network with the goal of finding minimum cost electric power flows using multiple different cost performance metrics. A custom CTP Solver was developed and implemented as an ASP.NET web application in an effort to study these various minimum cost smart grid problems and provide their optimal solutions. The CTP Solver modifies traditional linear programming concepts by introducing object oriented software development practices, as well as an insightful innovation for handling bidirectional arcs, which effectively halves the required disk and memory allocation of fully bidirectional networks. As an initial step toward smart grid optimization problem solutions, the CTP Solver provides a glimpse of how self-healing and possibly other key components of smart grid architecture might be handled in the future.