Leveraging Optimal Information-Power Flow for Transmission Switching in AC/MTDC Grids

Abstract

The emerging AC/multi-terminal DC grids are regarded as a promising solution for accommodating the increasing integration of renewable energy sources. This work proposes an optimization framework to address transmission switching (TS) problems arising in practical operational scenarios, such as maintenance scheduling, contingency management, and fault restoration. Unlike most existing studies, the proposed framework considers the role of communication networks in TS operations and develops an optimal information-power flow (OIPF) model. The OIPF model captures the impact of information flows on circuit breaker actions while incorporating communication-related costs, thereby better reflecting practical operational decision-making processes. To ensure computational tractability, the resulting optimization problem is formulated as a mixed-integer second-order cone programming (MISOCP) model through convex relaxations, polygonal approximations, and Big-M reformulations. Numerical case studies illustrate the applicability of the proposed OIPF model and indicate its potential in supporting transmission switching decisions.