A topology error identification method directly based on collinearity tests

A method for topology error identification based on collinearity tests involving Lagrange multipliers and the columns of the corresponding covariance matrix is presented. It relies on a geometric interpretation of the multipliers associated with the equality constraints that model circuit breaker status in generalized state estimation. The method is conceptually simple, and its implementation requires little computational effort, therefore being suitable for real-time applications. Results of several simulated cases conducted at the substation level on a real-life test system based on a subnetwork of the Brazilian Northern power system are used to illustrate the performance of the proposed technique.