OPF for traction power supply systems based on PWM converters with piecewise nonlinear characteristics: a reformulation solvable by interior-point method

Optimal power flow (OPF) in modern traction power systems is hard to compute because the PWM converters used in substations behave very non‑linearly. Traditional optimization methods often fail with the non‑convex, piecewise models of these converters, leading to convergence problems or solutions that are not optimal. This research looks at a mathematical reformulation that turns the piecewise, non‑linear PWM characteristics into a smooth, continuous, differentiable form. Smoothing the non‑linear boundaries lets the OPF problem be solved with high‑performance interior‑point methods, which gives reliable convergence and faster computation. The approach includes three main steps: * Build a model of the traction network topology. * Capture the efficiency and voltage‑regulation curves of

the PWM converters. * Set up an objective that minimizes transmission losses and operating costs. Implementation guidance focuses on testing the method with common optimization solvers and power‑system simulation tools. The resulting framework offers a clear way to study modern electrified railway grids and helps understand how active rectifiers and energy‑storage systems can be integrated into traction networks.

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