Integrating Knowledge Graphs into Distribution Grid Decision Support Systems

Distribution grids are complex networks containing multiple pieces of equipment. These components are interconnected, and each of them is described by various attributes. A knowledge graph is an interesting data format that represents pieces of information as nodes and relations between the pieces as edges. In this paper, we describe the proposed vocabulary used to build a distribution system knowledge graph. We identify the concepts used in such graphs and a set of relations to represent links between concepts. Both provide a semantically rich representation of a system. Additionally, we offer a few illustrative examples of how a distributed system knowledge graph can be utilized to gain more insight into the operations of the grid. We show a simplified analysis of how outages can influence customers based on their locations and how adding DERs can influence/change it. These demonstrative use cases show that the graph-based representation of a distribution grid allows for integrating information of different types and how such a repository can be efficiently utilized. Based on the experiments with distribution system knowledge graphs presented in this article, we postulate that graph-based representation enables a novel way of storing information about power grids and facilitates interactive methods for their visualization and analysis.