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% \underline{\large \bf DRAFT}
\underline{\large \bf REVISED 5/7/93}
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{\large \bf
ACTION-NYS \\}
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{\large \bf
High Performance Computing and Parallel \\
Processing in the Utility Industry \\}
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\bigskip
Geoffrey Fox, Paul Coddington, Alok Choudhary, \\ 
Salim Hariri, Nancy McCracken, Michael Nilan, Sanjay Ranka \\
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Northeast Parallel Architectures Center \\
Syracuse University
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\noindent
{\bf Executive Summary}

\medskip
We propose a major study and implementation project which addresses
the role in the utility industry of High Performance Computing (HPC),
and in particular, parallel processing.
The project has three phases:

\begin{description}

\item[\quad 1)]  A study phase to evaluate the use of parallel computing 
	  for unit commitment, contingency evaluation and transient
	  stability analysis. 
	  This will include a survey of available sequential and parallel
	  algorithms for solving differential-algebraic and sparse matrix
	  equations, and the development of new parallel algorithms for 
	  these problems which are optimized for power systems applications.
	  A comparison of the performance of different algorithms for 
	  solving network and generator equations will be given. 
          This phase will also include a more general survey on the role 
	  of HPC and parallel processing in the utility industry.

\item[\quad 2)]  A proof-of-concept phase to demonstrate the feasibility 
	  of incorporating transient stability analysis into a fast 
	  contingency evaluation program by using parallel computing. 
	  At the end of this phase we will have incorporated a fast
	  parallel sparse matrix solver into a prototype transient 
	  stability analysis program capable of being interfaced to 
	  contingency evaluation software.
	  We will make recommendations on the appropriate hardware, 
	  software, and user interface for a production system. 
	  We will also investigate the creation of a consortium of
	  interested corporations for developing this prototype into a 
	  product in a second phase of the project.

\item[\quad 3)]  A production phase to produce a commercial package for 
	  unit commitment and on-line contingency evaluation and transient
	  stability analysis with a high-level user interface
	  incorporating a knowledge-based expert system.
	  The package will include hardware, software, documentation, 
	  and training. 
          We expect that the commercial development of this product will be
          done in collaboration with corporate partners.

\end{description}

\noindent
Here we propose an initial project to carry out Phases 1 and 2 of this agenda. 

{\leftmargini=15pt
\begin{itemize}
\item
Phase 1 is proposed to run for 6 months from June 15, 1993 to December 16, 1993.
\item
Phase 2 is proposed to run for 3 months from December 17, 1993 to 
March 16, 1994.
\item
The implementation of Phase 3 will be dependent on the results of the previous
phases, discussions between NPAC, NMPC and other possible commercial
partners, and the acquisition of further funding. We will submit a further 
proposal concerning Phase 3 at the end of Phase 2.
Phase 3 is expected to run for approximately 18 months.
\end{itemize}
}

\medskip
\noindent
The project will be part of our ACTION-NYS industrial outreach program
and substantial cost sharing will be available due to state funding of 
this program.

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\noindent
{\large \bf Background}
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% **** 
% Refer to IEEE report on parallel processing in the power industry
% as well as the TASC report?
% What about the report Sanjay mentioned?
%

    The rapid increase in computer performance has led to increased
opportunities in the application of computing to the power systems industry.
The report, ``Comprehensive Study of Supercomputing and its Applicability
to the Utility Industry'' by TASC, concludes that by 1995 even small
improvements in operations, peak reduction, transmission, and avoided
customer interruption ``can translate into total annual dollar savings that 
are nearly an order of magnitude greater than the annual cost of operating a
supercomputer.''  
Bill Merritt of the Operations group of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
(NMPC) has suggested that
improved contingency evaluation and transient stability analysis could save 
NMPC on the order of \$1.7 million per year without sacrificing 
system reliability by intelligently reducing the present operating margins.  
The magnitude of this additional analysis will require supercomputing 
capabilities in order to produce near real-time modeling to enable 
operations staff to make better informed decisions.  

    It is widely recognized within the computer industry that increased
supercomputer speeds will necessarily involve parallel computing.  This is
evidenced by the plans for parallel computing by such traditional
supercomputing companies as Cray, Digital and IBM and by the success of
parallel supercomputers like the Connection Machine.  The Federal High
Performance Computing and Communication Initiative (FHPCCI) both
endorses this concept and will accelerate progress.  The Syracuse University
team is at the leading edge of this initiative and currently funded by DARPA
% **** ??
to produce portable software systems for parallel machines.  Furthermore,
considerable experience has been gained in recent years on a variety of
parallel computing architectures.  For example, the Caltech Concurrent
Computation Program, while it was under the direction of Geoffrey Fox, was
able to successfully implement 50 large parallel application codes from all
areas on the hypercube architecture.

    Parallel computing has now been developed to the point where it is
possible to examine computationally intense computer applications,
for example
those computer programs required to support daily power utility operations, 
to determine what parallel algorithms can implement those applications and 
what is the most effective parallel computer architecture to run those
algorithms. 
We note that TASC acknowledges the 
advances of parallel processing but does not consider the implication of this 
in their report.  Parallel processing will be needed to achieve the performance 
levels quoted by TASC ($0.5 \times 10^{12}$ operations per second) 
by the year 2000,
and we expect at least an order of magnitude better performance than this.  
% Fast, accurate and extensive contingency evaluation and transient
% stability analysis will require these impressive computing capabilities.
However, parallel processing requires the algorithms and software to be
rethought and often reimplemented.  This critical issue
was not addressed in the TASC report and is a key point of our proposal.
    
    We expect that the use of high performance parallel computers will permit
faster and more accurate system modeling during daily operations, and this 
additional knowledge of the system status and security will have direct
benefits for NMPC.
Daily planning activities that examine stability analysis were previously 
impossible due to long run-times and the time required for engineers to 
interpret the results.
Significantly faster computational capabilities and an improved user interface
for presenting the output data would enable near real-time system analysis,
which should allow a reduction in the conservative operating margins currently
required. 
Reducing excessive operating margins would reduce fuel consumption, thus 
saving money and reducing environmental impact while maintaining the present
standards for reliable operations, or even improving system reliability.

    The Syracuse team has excellent qualifications, indicated by the DARPA 
project mentioned above and by our membership in the prestigious NSF Science
and Technology Center devoted to making parallel computation practical.  
In the latter project, we are involved in parallel software and direct all the 
parallel application work at the participating institutions (Caltech, Rice
and Syracuse Universities and Los Alamos National Laboratory).  
%
Dr. Paul Coddington will be the project leader, and will work full time on 
co-ordination and technical aspects of the project, and liasing with 
NMPC staff. He has 8 years experience in computational physics and 
parallel computing. 
%
Our proposed project for NMPC also benefits from the State funded
ACTION-NYS program, 
which provides infrastructure support and cost sharing for the parts 
of the project which have generic value to the power industry.

\bigskip
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\noindent
{\large \bf Project Description}
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We now detail the components of the project, which has three phases:

\begin{description}

\item[\quad 1)] A study phase lasting 6 months, which will consist of
           research, study and evaluation in the areas listed below.  
           This phase will also include a more general survey on the role 
	   of parallel processing in the utility industry. \\
           This phase to run from June 15, 1993 to December 16, 1993.

\item[\quad 2)] A proof-of-concept phase lasting 3 months, which will 
           consist of demonstrating the feasibility of using parallel
	   processing and expert systems technology to improve speed,
	   accuracy, and analysis of data for contingency evaluation 
	   incorporating transient stability analysis. \\
           This phase to run from December 17, 1993 to March 16, 1994.

\item[\quad 3)] A production phase, in which we will develop hardware and
	   software investigated in the study phase into a product for use
	   at NMPC, in collaboration with commercial partners. \\
           This phase is expected to take approximately 18 months.

\end{description}

The plan for the production phase will be dependent on the results 
obtained in the earlier phases. Work on a deliverable product will involve
collaboration with corporate partners.
During the proof-of-concept phase we will investigate the creation of a 
consortium of interested parties, including NPAC, NMPC and other companies
from the utilities, software and computer industries, for developing the 
prototype system into a commercial product.
At the end of this phase we will submit a proposal for the development of
such a product in a third phase of the project.
We are aware of at least two companies that would be interested in 
helping to develop this product. 


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{\large \bf 1) \hspace{1mm} Study Phase}
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The study phase will consist of study, research, and evaluation in the
following interrelated research areas:
\begin{enumerate}
\item Unit Commitment
\item Contingency Analysis
\item Transient Stability Analysis
\item Parallel Sparse Matrix Algorithms
\item User Interface and Expert Systems
\item Parallelism and Computational Issues
\item Survey on HPC and Parallel Processing in the Utility Industry
\end{enumerate}

\medskip\noindent
Previous research into parallel unit commitment has shown promising results
for shared memory multiprocessors.
We will extend this work and investigate new optimization techniques such
as simulated annealing, and implement and benchmark different algorithms 
on distributed memory parallel computers.

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