A Joint Estimation Method of Distribution Network Topology and Line Parameters Based on Power Flow Graph Convolutional Networks

Accurate identification of network topology and line parameters is essential for effective management of distribution systems. An innovative joint estimation method for distribution network topology and line parameters is presented, utilizing a power flow graph convolutional network (PFGCN). This approach addresses the limitations of traditional methods that rely on costly voltage phase angle measurements. The node correlation principle is applied to construct a node correlation matrix, and a minimum distance iteration algorithm is proposed to generate candidate topologies, which serve as graph inputs for the parameter estimation model. Based on the topological dependencies and convolutional properties of AC power flow equations, a PFGCN model is designed for line parameter estimation. Parameter refinement is achieved through an alternating iterative process of pseudo-trend calculation and neural network training. Training convergence and loss function values are used as feedback to filter and validate candidate topologies, enabling precise joint estimation of both topologies and parameters. The proposed method’s accuracy, transferability, and robustness are demonstrated through experiments on the IEEE-33 and modified IEEE-69 distribution systems. Multiple metrics, including MAPE, IAE, MAE, and R2, highlight the proposed method’s advantages over Adaptive Ridge Regression (ARR). In the C33 scenario, the proposed method achieves MAPEs of 4.6% for g and 5.7% for b, outperforming the ARR method with MAPEs of 7.1% and 7.9%, respectively. Similarly, in the IC69 scenario, the proposed method records MAPEs of 3.0% for g and 5.9% for b, surpassing the ARR method’s 5.1% and 8.3%.