Automatic definition of topological corrective actions for post-contingency OPEX minimization

Abstract

This paper presents a practical algorithm for the automatic definition of topological corrective actions (TCAs) to minimize the additional operating expenses required to mitigate the adverse effects of contingencies in the network. Contingency and sensitivity analyses are used to identify possible TCAs that comprise the disconnection of single branches, pre-defined switching actions on one or more circuit breakers (CB), and changing the tap position of phase-shifter transformers. A novel method is proposed for the identification of possible CB closing TCAs. For the TCAs that do not lead to uncontrolled cascade tripping, unit commitment (UC) calculations are eventually run to obtain the economically optimal amount of conventional generation redispatch, renewable energy curtailment and load shedding required to eliminate the residual overloadings after each possible TCA is applied. The proposed approach does not reformulate the UC optimal power flow problem but rather uses standard calculation functions available in industrial-grade software. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is shown for a reduced-order transmission system prepared to capture many post-contingency conditions found in practice.