The GridPACK#8482; toolkit for developing power grid simulations on high performance computing platforms

Abstract

This paper describes the GridPACK#8482; framework, which is designed to help power grid engineers develop modeling software capable of running on high performance computers. The framework contains modules for setting up distributed power grid networks, assigning buses and branches with arbitrary behaviors to the network, creating distributed matrices and vectors, using parallel linear and non-linear solvers to solve algebraic equations, and mapping functionality to create matrices and vectors based on properties of the network. In addition, the framework contains additional functionality to support IO and to manage errors. The goal of GridPACK#8482; is to provide developers with a comprehensive set of modules that can substantially reduce the complexity of writing software for parallel computers while still providing efficient and scalable software solutions.