Abstract:The correct setting of automatic generation control (AGC) software constraints plays an important role in ensuring the reliable operation of the AGC system. To solve the problems that current tests cannot effectively identify key constraints, the test space suffers from combinatorial explosion, and the test cost is high, this paper proposes a test design method for identifying key constraints based on the idea of orthogonal design. An orthogonal table is designed according to the constraints, and combined test items are obtained. Taking the most complex energy storage control constraint in AGC as an example, the experimental results show that the energy storage output mutation threshold constraint is critical among all energy storage control-related constraints. Moreover, using the proposed method, the number of test cases can be reduced from 1,024 to 16, resulting in a 98.44% reduction in testing workload and a 64-fold improvement in testing efficiency. This provides important guidance for conducting subsequent AGC testing.