MISO and BSI develop the Smart Power Flow tool

Category: Smart Power Flow Solver

Carmel, IN -- Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) and Bigwood Systems, Inc. (BSI) have collaborated to develop and validate BSI’s Smart Power Flow Solver engine and explore its potential benefits to improve the reliability of both operational and planning power flow studies.

BSI will develop the proof-of-concept tool with feedback and guidance from MISO and evaluate it using MISO data. The objective of the Smart Power Flow Solver engine is to handle power flow divergence of the energy management system (EMS) under contingencies. When the EMS Power Flow diverges, the Smart Power Flow Solver will be there (1) to identify whether a solution exists or not, (2) if a solution exists, it will support convergence to an accurate solution, and (3) if no solution exists, provide restoration methods in recovering a power flow solution.

The Smart Power Flow Solver has the potential to save power grid operations hours and hours of manual calculation, freeing engineers to work in other areas. The tool will first reside on the utility site’s server but potentially could become a cloud application.

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that delivers safe, cost-effective electric power across 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. MISO is committed to reliable, nondiscriminatory operation of the bulk power transmission system and collaborating with all stakeholders to create cost-effective and innovative solutions for our changing industry. MISO operates one of the world’s largest energy markets with more than $29 billion in annual gross market energy transactions.