A Primer on Optimal Power Flow: Theory, Formulation, and Practical Examples

The set of optimization problems in electric power systems engineering known collectively as Optimal Power Flow (OPF) is one of the most practically important and well-researched subfields of constrained nonlinear optimization. OPF has enjoyed a rich history of research, innovation, and publication since its debut five decades ago. Nevertheless, entry into OPF research is a daunting task for the uninitiated---both due to the sheer volume of literature and because OPF's familiarity within the electric power systems community has led authors to assume a great deal of prior knowledge that readers unfamiliar with electric power systems may not possess. This primer provides a practical introduction to OPF from an Operations Research perspective; it describes a complete and concise basis of knowledge for beginning OPF research. The primer is tailored for the Operations Researcher who has experience with optimization but little knowledge of Electrical Engineering. Topics include power systems modeling, the power flow equations, typical OPF formulations, and data exchange for OPF.