The conventional load flow method is considered to be inadequate to obtain the maximum loading point (MLP) of power systems, due to the singularity of Jacobian matrix. Continuation methods are efficient tools for solving this kind of problem, since parameterizations techniques can be used to avoid such singularities. In this paper new options for the parameterization step are presented. It is shown that variables with clear physical meaning can be utilized to parameterize the power flow equations. The following variables have been tested: total real and reactive power losses, real and reactive power at the slack bus, reactive power at generator buses, and transmission line real and reactive power losses. The proposed parameterization schemes simplify the implementation of a continuation power flow, and make it easier for power engineers to understand its mathematical definition, since it uses physically meaningful parameters rather than purely mathematical and complex variables. Results obtained with the new parameterization techniques for the IEEE test systems (14, 30, 57 and 118 buses) show that the convergence characteristics of the conventional power flow method are improved at the MLP vicinity. In addition, it is shown that the proposed parameters can be switched during the tracing of the PV curve in order to efficiently determine all its points with few iterations. Several tests are carried out to compare the performance of the proposed parameterization schemes for the continuation load flow method.
Continuation Methods; Voltage Collapse; Load Flow; Multiple Solutions; Maximum Loading Point
