Distributed Algorithm for Optimal Power Flow on a Radial Network

The optimal power flow (OPF) problem is fundamental in power system operations and planning. Large-scale renewable penetration calls for real-time feedback control, and hence the need for fast and distributed solutions for OPF. This is difficult because OPF is nonconvex and Kirchhoff's laws are global. In this paper we propose a solution for radial networks. It exploits recent results that suggest solving for a globally optimal solution of OPF over a radial network through the second-order cone program (SOCP) relaxation. Our distributed algorithm is based on alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM), but unlike standard ADMM algorithms that often require iteratively solving optimization subproblems in each ADMM iteration, our decomposition allows us to derive closed form solutions for these subproblems, greatly speeding up each ADMM iteration. We present simulations on a real-world 2,065-bus distribution network to illustrate the scalability and optimality of the proposed algorithm.