Evaluation of Operating Domains in Power Systems

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a recent major industry-supported study with the aim to provide power system operators with more meaningful and effective means to quickly identify feasible operating boundaries as well as more flexibility to select alternate operating scenarios. In this regard, the paper outlines the main theoretical basis and computational framework for the development of innovative computerized schemes capable of identifying and processing various system integrity domains. The novel framework allows system operators to determine – in a fast and reliable manner – the most favorable operating scenarios which maintain system security, reliability and operating performance quality. For demonstration purposes, and without loss of generality, an emphasis is given to the dynamic system security problem where the Transient Energy Function (TEF) method is used to define quantitative measures of the level (degree) of system security for a given operating scenario. Nonetheless, the framework presented is applicable quite as well to other system performance functions and criteria that may be considered. A demonstrative application is presented for a 9-bus benchmark system, widely used in the literature. In addition, a practical application is also presented for the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) power system where the operating security domain was evaluated in the operating parameter space spanned by two major interface flows in the system.