Abstract: A method of assessing an electrical power system is provided that includes performing a plurality of contingencies using a mathematical model of the system and determining a representative solution for each contingency. For each bus and contingency, symptoms of system stress exhibited in the representative solution are tabulated. Each contingency is categorized into a contingency cluster based on its representative solution, and those buses having a highest number of the symptoms of system stress for each contingency categorized within a respective contingency cluster are sorted into a group associated therewith. The contingency clusters are arranged into a ranking based on its effect on the network, and a location for a network enhancement is selected from a group of buses associated with a contingency cluster of the ranking that has a largest effect on the network and also includes buses as a result of the sorting.

Abstract: A plurality of buses of an electrical power system are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are applied and the reactive reserves are monitored to determine an exhaustion factor for one or more family lines in one or more families. A boundary case solution exists for each outage that has no solution when the outage is removed in small steps and an additional step has no solution and is used to assess where, why, and how the contingency causes voltage instability, voltage collapse and local blackout. Based on this information, the voltage rescheduling, active rescheduling, unit commitment and load shedding is determined that can be used as preventive, corrective or emergency controls in system design and planning, operation planning, reactive and voltage management, real time control, and Special Protection System Control.

Abstract: An analysis method for an electrical power system whereby the plurality of buses are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are then applied to the electrical power system. The reactive reserves are monitored, and an exhaustion factor is determined for one or more family lines in one or more families. A boundary case solution is used to assess where, why, and how the contingency causes voltage instability, voltage collapse and/or local blackout. Based on this information, the design of voltage rescheduling, active rescheduling, unit commitment, load shedding, etc., is determined that can be used as preventive, corrective or emergency controls in applications such as system design and planning, operation planning, reactive and voltage management, real time control and Special Protection System Control. Based on this information, solutions can then be applied to the power system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analysis method for an electrical power system whereby the plurality of buses are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are then applied to the electrical power system and the reactive reserves are monitored and an exhaustion factor is determined for one or more family lines in one or more families. A method for selecting double outage that have no solution for each outage that has no solution when the outage is removed in small steps and an additional step has no solution. The boundary case solution is used to assess where, why, and how the contingency causes voltage instability, voltage collapse, and local blackout.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analysis method for an electrical power system whereby the plurality of buses are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are then applied to the electrical power system and the reactive reserves are monitored and an exhaustion factor is determined for one or more family lines in one ore more families. A method for selecting double outage that have no solution for each outage that has no solution when the outage is removed in small steps and an additional step has no solution. The boundary case solution is used to assess where, why, and how the contingency causes voltage instability, voltage collapse, and local blackout.

Abstract: A method of locating enhancements for improving voltage stability security of an electric power transmission system having a plurality of buses and a plurality of sources of reactive reserves coupled thereto. The plurality of buses are grouped into a plurality of voltage control areas such that each of the buses within each voltage control area has a similar corresponding reactive power versus voltage relationship. A first voltage control area is determined for locating a first enhancement, wherein the first voltage control area exhibits therein a difference in internal reactive loss that exceeds a loss threshold. A second voltage control area is determined for locating a second enhancement, wherein the second voltage control area exhibits therein a difference in reactive reserves that exceeds a reactive reserve threshold. The first and second enhancements may include switchable shunt capacitors, synchronous voltage condensers, static var compensators, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for performing a voltage stability security assessment for a region of an electric power transmission system having a plurality of buses and a plurality of sources of reactive reserves coupled thereto. The plurality of buses are grouped into a plurality of voltage control areas such that each of the buses within each voltage control area has a substantially similar reactive margin and voltage at the minimum of the corresponding reactive power versus voltage relationship. A corresponding reactive reserve basin is determined for each of at least one of the voltage control areas. Each reactive reserve basin comprises at least one of the sources of reactive reserves selected in dependence upon a measure of the reactive reserves depleted at a predetermined operating point of the electric power transmission system. A single contingency analysis is performed by computing a corresponding quantity for each reactive reserve basin in response to each of a plurality of single contingencies.