DeepOPF-AL: Augmented Learning for Solving AC-OPF Problems with Multiple Load-Solution Mappings

The existence of multiple load-solution mappings of non-convex AC-OPF problems poses a fundamental challenge to deep neural network (DNN) schemes. As the training dataset may contain a mixture of data points corresponding to different load-solution mappings, the DNN can fail to learn a legitimate mapping and generate inferior solutions. We propose DeepOPF-AL as an augmented-learning approach to tackle this issue. The idea is to train a DNN to learn a unique mapping from an augmented input, i.e., (load, initial point), to the solution generated by an iterative OPF solver with the load and initial point as intake. We then apply the learned augmented mapping to solve AC-OPF problems much faster than conventional solvers. Simulation results over IEEE test cases show that DeepOPF-AL achieves noticeably better optimality and similar feasibility and speedup performance, as compared to a recent DNN scheme, with the same DNN size yet elevated training complexity.

DeepOPF-V: Solving AC-OPF Problems Efficiently

AC optimal power flow (AC-OPF) problems need to be solved more frequently in the future to maintain stable and economic operation. To tackle this challenge, a deep neural network-based voltage-constrained approach (DeepOPF-V) is proposed to find feasible solutions with high computational efficiency. It predicts voltages of all buses and then uses them to obtain all remaining variables. A fast post-processing method is developed to enforce generation constraints. The effectiveness of DeepOPF-V is validated by case studies of several IEEE test systems. Compared with existing approaches, DeepOPF-V achieves a state-of-art computation speedup up to three orders of magnitude and has better performance in preserving the feasibility of the solution.