Distributed approach for smart grid reconfiguration based on the OSPF routing protocol
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Date
2026-05
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Publisher
AIKTC
Abstract
Smart Grids (SGs) offer a transformative opportunity to enhance the efficiency, reliability,
and flexibility of electric power distribution networks.Among the critical functionalities
within Smart Grids is the capability for fault detection and subsequent automatic network
reconfiguration, enabling rapid response to failures, load imbalances and power
loss minimization. In this paper, we propose an adaptation of the widely-used Interior
Gateway routing protocol Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) to realise network reconfiguration
in the distribution layer of Smart Grids.The algorithm is designed for deployment
in secondary substation nodes,operating within an agent-based distributed architecture,
thereby enabling local decision-making and cooperative network rearrangement without
relying exclusively on a central controller.
The proposed method extends OSPF’s link-state paradigm to electric network topologies
rather than pure IP networks: each substation node maintains a local view of network connectivity
and load flows, broad casts link-cost information reflecting electrical parameters
(such as line impedance, current loading, and fault status), and computes shortest paths
to optimise energy flow, minimise losses and balance loads. When a fault is detected,
the agents execute re-routing, i.e., reconfiguration of feeders, via switching operations,
guided by the adapted OSPF metric functions which incorporate real-time power-flow
and load-balance criteria.
We validate the algorithm in two distinct contexts: first, on the modified IEEE 123 Node
Test Feeder benchmark, and second, on a real-world deployment by an electrical distribution
company operating a live grid. The benchmark experiments demonstrate that the
distributed OSPF-based method achieves comparable or superior loss-minimisation and
load-balancing performance relative to a typical centralised reconfiguration algorithm.
In the real-world scenario, the algorithm successfully detected fault-induced topology
changes, reconfigured the network within acceptable operational latency, and reduced
post-fault losses by a measurable margin.
Finally, this paper presents a detailed performance comparison between the proposed distributed
method and a conventional centralised reconfiguration algorithm: metrics such as
Department of Electrical Engineering 2025-26 Batch vi
convergence time, computational over head, communication load, resilience to multiple simultaneous
faults, and scalability are evaluated. The results indicate that the distributed
architecture offers advantages in terms of faster reaction to local disturbances, reduced
communication bottlenecks, and better scalability in large networks, though it may require
more sophisticated local intelligence and higher-quality communication links. The
work thus provides a compelling case for leveraging routing-protocol concepts in Smart
Grid distribution networks to improve resilience, efficiency and autonomy