Solution of massively parallel systems of nonlinear equations using analog circuits

Abstract

A parallel analog scheme is presented which finds solutions to very large sets of coupled equations using a massively parallel analog computing structure. The viability of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by solving the power flow (load flow) equations for a power system. The proposed scheme will solve the power flow equations for a large system at least four orders of magnitude faster than digital computers currently being used by utilities. The added speed will make the solution of the power flow equations a viable method of determining power system stability online in utility control centers. The proposed parallel analog architecture employs integrators, multipliers, and feedback to find the solution of the nonlinear, algebraic power flow equations as the steady state solution of a dynamical analog circuit. >