Dynamics, Criticality and Self-Organization in a Model for Blackouts in Power Transmission Systems

A model has been developed to study the global complex dynamics of a series of blackouts in power transmission systems [1, 2]. This model has included a simple level of self-organization by incorporating the growth of power demand and the engineering response to system failures. Two types of blackouts have been identified with different dynamical properties. One type of blackout involves loss of load due to lines reaching their load limits but no line outages. The second type of blackout is associated with multiple line outages. The dominance of one type of blackouts versus the other depends on operational conditions and the proximity of the system to one of its two critical points. The first critical point is characterized by operation with lines close to their line limits. The second critical point is characterized by the maximum in the fluctuations of the load demand being near the generator margin capability. The identification of this second critical point is an indication that t...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2002
• Where: HICSS
• Authors: Benjamin A. Carreras, Vickie E. Lynch, Ian Dobson, David E. Newman
• Keywords: Biometrics, Blackout Involves Loss, Critical Point, HICSS 2002, Line Outages