Indiscernible topological variations in DAE networks with applications to power grids

The ability to detect topology variations in dynamical networks defined by differential algebraic equations (DAEs) is considered. We characterize the existence of initial states, for which topological changes are indiscernible. A key feature of our characterization is the ability to verify indiscernibility just in terms of the nominal topology. We apply the results to a power grid model and also discuss the relationship to recent mode-detection results for switched DAEs.