Method, computer program and system providing real-time power grid hypothesis testing and contigency planning

Abstract

A data processing system includes a user interface with a user input configured to enable a user to specify a type of simulation to be performed and at least one initial condition, where the simulation is executed using at least one sensor input from a grid structure composed of at least one of a power transmission and distribution grid. The user interface further has a display configured to visualize a representation of a result of a simulation of at least one scenario by presenting a multi-dimensional representation comprised of indicators, where each indicator corresponds to at least one simulation result. The user interface responds to a selection of one of the indicators by the user to visualize a result of the corresponding simulation. The type of simulation can be an N−k contingency analysis simulation, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater than 1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a computing platform comprising a first interface to receive inputs from sensors that comprise a part of a grid structure comprised of at least one of a power transmission grid and a power distribution grid, the computing platform configured to execute an electrical power grid simulator program and further comprising a second interface configured to communicate with at least one user device through a communication layer; and   a user device connected with the computing platform through the communication layer, the user device comprising a graphical user interface, at least one data processor, and at least one non-transitory computer readable medium that stores program instructions, where execution of the stored program instructions enables the user device to   specify, in response to input from the graphical user interface, at least one initial condition and a type of simulation to be performed by the electrical power grid simulator program based on the at least one initial condition;   to transmit the specified type of simulation and the at least one initial condition from the user device to the computing platform;   to receive from the computing platform a result of the simulation at the user device, the simulation being based on at least one of a steady state model of the grid structure and a dynamical model of the grid structure; and   to visualize the result of the simulation with the user interface, where a visualization of the result comprises a result of the simulation of at least one scenario and displays a multi-dimensional representation comprised of indicators, where each indicator corresponds to at least one simulation result, and where a user selection of one of the indicators initiates visualizing a result of the simulation of the corresponding simulation result or results.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , where the type of simulation comprises an N−k contingency analysis simulation, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater than 1, where binomial coefficient N choose k scenarios are generated, and each scenario has k generators and/or branches disabled. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 2 , where a visualization comprises at least one of power flow, generation or demand of the grid structure comprising one or more of active and reactive power flow, generation or demands, phase angles, maximum, average, or minimum values and other relevant parameters of interest. 
     
     
         4 . A data processing system comprised of at least one data processor and at least one memory medium connected with the at least one data processor, the at least one memory medium storing computer program instructions that are executable by the at least one data processor, the data processing system further comprising:
 a user interface having a user input configured to enable a user to specify a type of simulation to be performed and at least one initial condition, where the simulation is executed by a simulation program using at least in part one or more sensor inputs from a grid structure comprised of at least one of a power transmission grid and a power distribution grid, said user interface further having a display configured to visualize a representation of a result of a simulation of at least one scenario by presenting a multi-dimensional representation comprised of indicators, where each indicator corresponds to at least one simulation result, where said user interface is further configured to respond to a selection of one of the indicators by the user to visualize a result of the corresponding simulation.   
     
     
         5 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where the simulation is based on at least one of a steady state model of the grid structure and a dynamical model of the grid structure. 
     
     
         6 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where a type of simulation comprises an N−k contingency analysis simulation, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater than 1, where binomial coefficient N choose k scenarios are generated, and each scenario has k generators and/or branches disabled. 
     
     
         7 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where a simulation enables real-time or near real-time operation of the grid structure to be monitored and simulated. 
     
     
         8 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where the visualization comprises a visualization of at least one of power flow, generation or demand of the grid structure comprising one or more of active and reactive power flow, generation or demands, phase angles, maximum, average, or minimum values and other parameters of interest. 
     
     
         9 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where said user interface is further configured to enable the user to interact with at least one running simulation to visualize with said display real-time grid data or evolving simulation data, and to request via said user input additional simulation detail. 
     
     
         10 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where specifying the simulation with said user interface comprises at least one of a selection of initial grid states for the simulation and a selection of grid structure variations whose effect on the grid structure is to be simulated, where initial grid states can be based on historical grid structure data or on real-time grid structure data captured at least in part by the sensors. 
     
     
         11 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where the visualization provides periodic visualization updates as simulation results become available to be visualized, and where said user interface is further configured to enable the user to interact with a running simulation to modify a future path of the running simulation based on the visualization. 
     
     
         12 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , where enabling the user to interact with a running simulation enables the user to prune a simulation scenario space in order to concentrate available computing power on simulation paths of interest to the user. 
     
     
         13 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where specifying the simulation with said user interface comprises enabling the user to select from a visualization of the grid structure at least one of individual nodes or branches of the grid structure, or to select at least one region of the grid structure that includes multiple nodes and branches. 
     
     
         14 . The data processing system of  claim 13 , where specifying the simulation with said user interface further comprises enabling the user via said user input to selectively add at least one element to the grid structure, to selective remove at least one element from the grid structure, or to selectively replace at least one existing element of the grid structure with another element. 
     
     
         15 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where the visualization is comprised of graphical-type images and also alpha-numeric information for further specifying a result of a simulation or simulations. 
     
     
         16 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where the visualization displays a graphical representation of a state of the grid structure or grid structure simulation at past, current or future times, and responds to user activation of said user interface to direct and control operation of the simulation including setup, run time and analysis. 
     
     
         17 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where the visualization shows a difference between results of at least two simulations of the grid structure. 
     
     
         18 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where specifying the simulation with said user interface further comprises specifying multiple simulation scenarios, and further comprises selecting a starting simulation scenario, a number of simulation scenarios to be generated, and specifying at least one rule to be applied for generating the multiple simulation scenarios. 
     
     
         19 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , where said user interface is further configured to send in response to a user input a command to the grid structure in order to change a state of at least one grid structure actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , embodied in a mobile device that is connectable via at least one wireless interface to a computing platform where the simulation is performed.