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Estimating of loadability margin of a power system by comparing Voltage

Stability Indices

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 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON “CONTROL, AUTOMATION, COMMUNICATION AND ENERGY CONSERVATION -2009, 4th-6th June 2009
1

Estimating of Loadability Margin of a Power

System by comparing Voltage Stability Indices
M.V.Suganyadevia, C.K.Babulalb,

Abstract— Estimating the margin in the loadability of the power system is essential in the real time voltage stability assessment. Voltage stability
is currently one of the most important research areas in the field of electrical power system. The condition of voltage stability in a power system can
be known using Voltage Stability Indices (VSI). The loading margin is one of the most widely known and accepted VSI. Voltage Stability Indices can
be useful for estimating the distance from the current operating point to voltage collapse point. The indices can either reveal the critical bus of a
power system or the stability of each line connected between two buses in an interconnected network or evaluate the voltage stability margins of a
system. The comparison of the performances of these indices is presented and the effectiveness of the analyzed methods is demonstrated through
simulation studies in IEEE 14 bus reliability test systems

Index Terms—loading margin, voltage stability assessment, voltage collapse, voltage stability index.

—————————— ——————————

1 INTRODUCTION
Due to ever increasing load demand, power utilities are now
forced to increase the utilization of existing transmission fa-
cilities. It is quite difficult to construct new lines due to envi-
ronmental and economic considerations. As power systems
become more complex and heavily loaded, along with eco-
nomical and environmental constraints, voltage instability
become an increasingly serious problem, loading systems to
operate close to their limits. The problem related to voltage
instability has become a major concern for secure operation
of many power systems. This has necessitated the implanta-
tion of techniques for analyzing and defecting voltage col-
lapse in bus bar or lines prior to its occurrence. Voltage stabil-
ity is concerned with the ability of a power system to main-
tain acceptable voltages at all nodes in the system under
normal condition and after being subject to a disturbance [1].
The main cause of voltage collapse may be due to the inabili-
ty of the power system to supply the reactive power or an
excessive absorption of the reactive power by the system it-
self. The continuous sequences of voltage instability leads to
voltage collapse and ended in total blackout of the power
station. During the last decades, the voltage stability problem
has been given more attention primarily due to number of
stability accidents that occurred in some countries. Some well
known examples of voltage instability incidents were in
France, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, and Japan and in U.S.A
[2],[3].Voltage collapse occurs when a system is heavily
loaded and unable to maintain its generation and transmis-
sion schedule, observed by sudden decline or sag in system
wide voltage. This change in voltage is so rapid that voltage
control devices may not take corrective actions rapidly
enough to prevent cascading blackouts. It is important for the
operators and planners to find out the limit point of voltage
instability. Therefore finding a voltage stability index has be-
come an important task for voltage stability studies. A vol-
tage stability index is proposed to aiming to detect the sys-
tem loadability.These indices provide reliable information
about proximity of voltage instability in a power system.
Usually their values change from 0(no load) to 1(voltage col-
lapse).A review of the literature[4],[5],[6],[7],[11],[12][13],[14]
————————————————
a
• M.E student [Power System Engineering] in Thiagarajar College of
EngineeringMadurai.E-Mail-mvsuganyadevi@yahoo.com
b
• Assistant Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Thia-
garajar College of Engineering,Madurai.E-Mail-ckbeee@tce.edu
.
on techniques reveals that various methods such as critical
bus bars identification, critical line identification parameter
optimization, and stability margin detection and system sta-
bility studies etc. have been proposed to default voltage in-
stability. The condition of voltage stability can be determined
using Voltage stability index. The analysis of voltage stabili-
ty for a given power system is concerned with two as-
pects: (1)An appropriate voltage stability index describes
how the system is close to voltage instability,(2) What are the
stability weak buses and which areas are involved.Many in-
dices are compared to detect the maximum loadability point
in the power system because it cannot be limited by one or
two index value. By comparing many voltages stability indic-
es in the electric power system and identify the weakest
bus/area of the system. A number of voltage stability indices
have been proposed in the literature. Line stability indices
determine the weakest line in the system and to evaluate the
voltage stability condition, whereas bus stability indices can
be used to identify the weakest bus or area in the system
Some of the important ones are discussed below such as line
stability index(Lmn),fast voltage stability index(FVSI),line sta-
bility factor(LQP),voltage collapse proximity index(VCPI),on
line stability index(LVSI),L index, diagonal element depen-
dent index Ipi,Iqi and the threshold index I.
2 VOLTAGE STABILITY INDICES
The purpose of VSI is to determine the point of voltage in-
stability, the weakest bus in the system and the critical line
referred to a bus. There are several indices based on bus
and the line. Thus the NODAL VSI and LINE VSI are brief-
ly discussed in the following section.
2.1 Line Voltage stability Indices
1] Line stability index [Lmn]
This index derived by M.Moghavemmi Et al. [6] proposed
an overall system stability index base on the concept of
power flow through a single line.A technique is used to
reduce the system into a single line equivalent network.the
index reflects the severity of loading as well as the stability
of the system.The discriminate of the voltage quadratic
equation is set to be greater or equal than zero to achieve
stability. If the discriminate is small than zero, the roots
will be imaginary, which mans that cause instability in the

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2

system. A single line in an interconnected network is Where the values Pj and Qj are obtained from conventional
illustrated in Fig.1. power flows calculations, and Pj(max) and Qj(max) are the max-
imum active and reactive power that can be transferred
trough the line. The VCPI indices varies from 0(no load) to
1 (voltage collapse)

5] On Line Voltage Stability Index LVSI

Fig. 1. Typical one line diagram of transmission line
The Line Stability index is defined as
4 xQ j
Lmn =
[Vi sin (θ − δ )]2
Vi, Vj = Voltage on sending and receiving buses
Pi, Qi = Active and reactive power on the sending bus
Pj, Qj = Active and reactive power on the receiving bus
Si, Sj = Apparent power on the sending and receiving
buses
δ i − δ j = δ , angle difference between sending and re-
ceiving buses
As long as the stability index Lmn remains less than 1,
the system is stable and when this index exceeds the val-
ues 1, the whole system loses its stability and voltage col-
lapse occurs.
2] Line Stability Factor [LQP]
A. Mohamed et al [7] proposed this index based on a
concept of power flow through a single line.LQP is calcu-
lated as
⎛ X ⎞⎛ X ⎞ between 0 (no load) and 1 (voltage collapse).
LQP = 4⎜ 2 ⎟⎜ 2 P i 2 + Qj ⎟
⎜ ⎟⎝ V i ⎠ 2] Diagonal element dependent index [I, IQ, IP]
⎝ Vi ⎠
LQP must be kept less than 1.00 to maintain a stable
system.
3] Fast Voltage Stability Index [FVSI]
The fast voltage stability index symbolized FVSI pro-
posed by I.Musirin et al [8] is formulated base on a pow-
er transmission line.
An on line voltage stability index is proposed from the
view point of the relationships between line active power
and the bus voltage with the line[10].If the resistances of
the transmission line is equal to zero means this index will
fails. The index is formulated as
4Pj r
LVSI − ≤ 1.0 (6)
[Vi cos(θ − δ )]2
(1) where the variables are same as above.
2.2 Nodal Voltage Stability Indices
1] L-Index [L]
P.Kessel et al [11] developed a voltage stability index based
on the solution of the power flow equations. based on the
solution of the power flow equations index A global indica-
tor is a quantitative measure for the estimation of the dis-
tance of the actual state of the system to the stability limit.
The index can be computed as
∑ 1∈α G F jiVi
L = max (L j ) = max 1 − (7)
j∈αl j∈α Vj
where L is the set of consumer nodes and G is the set of
generator nodes.
Lj is a local indicator that determinates the busbars from
where collapse may originate. The L index varies in a range
(2)
This indices proposed by A.K.Sinha [12] observed that with
increase in load at the load bus i value of diagonal elements
∂Qi / ∂Vi and ∂Pi / ∂δ i gets reduced.Thus, the deviation
in value of ∂Qi / ∂Vi and ∂Pi / ∂δ i from its no-load value
to the value at any particular loading condition can be used
as index of voltage stability for the load bus i.Using this cri-
teria two voltage stability indices are proposed:

4Z 2 Q j
FVSI = (3) ∂Qi / ∂Vi
2
Vi X I qi =
− Bii (8)

The value of FVSI that is evaluated close to 1.00 indicates

that the particular line is closed to its instability point
which may lead to voltage collapse in the entire system.
To maintain a secure condition the value of FVSI should ∂ Pi / ∂ δ i
be maintained well less than 1.00 I pi = (9)
− B ii

4] Voltage Collapse Proximity Index [VCPI]

The VCPI indices proposed by M.Moghavvemi et al [9] The threshold value of the VSI are proposed as
investigates the stability of each line of the system and
they are based o the concept of maximum power trans-
∂Pi / ∂δ i
ferred through a line. Ii = N
(10)

VCPI (1) =Pj/Pj (max) (4) ∑B V

j =1
ii j

j ≠i

VCPI (2) =Qj/Qj (max) (5)

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 3

3 TEST SYSTEM AND ANALYSIS TOOLS and the line stability indices can exactly predict system col-
lapse with additional information, showing the overall
Simulations were carried on IEEE 14 busbar test sys- stressful condition of the system. The index LVSI gives a
tem.This system has 5 generator busbars, 9 load busbars value greater than 1.00 for the heavy load condition when
and 20 interconnected branches. The system data is ob- compared to other indices.
tained from [16]. The aim of the simulatios was to compare
the peformance of the different indices used to identify the TABLE 2
proximity of voltage collapse. All the results are produced LINE VSI WITH HEAVY REACTIVE LOADING AT
with the help of a program developed in PSAT. PSAT is a NODE 14
Matlab toolbox for electric power system analysis and con-
trol. PSAT includes power flow, continuation power flow,
optimal power flow, and small signal stability analysis and Line Lmn LQP FVSI VCPI(P) VCPI(Q) LVSI
time domain simulation. All operations can be assessed by
means of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and a Simulink-
based library provides a user friendly tool for network de- 10 0.9638 0.9311 0.9309 0.7863 0.7876 0.998
sign. PSAT core is the power flow routine, which also takes
19 0.9200 0.8869 0.8967 0.7038 0.7038 0.962
care of state variable initialization. Once the power flow
has been solved, further static and/or dynamic analysis can 14 0.8103 08111 0.8009 0.7960 0.7961 0.969
be performed. Several tests were carried out with different
combinations of loading. Testing criteria based on the load- 8 0.4837 04836 0.4831 0.4009 0.4002 0.785
ing pattern are single load change and multiple load
change. Both real and reactive load power are raised gradually at
node 14 to a level very close to instability. Gradual addition
4 TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS of load slowly makes a few lines critical. For a load of
Different combinations of loading are adopted such as P=1.75 p.u and Q=0.53 p.u at node 14,it is found that line
single load change and multiple load change. In single 10,which is connected to node 14 is the most critical line
load change, real load alone change, reactive load alone with a value of its stability index very nearer to 1.00.The re-
change, and both real and reactive load changes. In node sults are tabulated as shown below in table 3.
14 the real load is slowly varied from its base value (0.149
p.u) to the level of voltage collapse (1.89 p.u). The per- TABLE 3
formances of all line VSI are tabulated for the most criti- LINE VSI WITH BOTH HEAVY REAL AND REACTIVE
cal lines as shown below. LOADING AT NODE 14
TABLE 1
LINE VSI WITH HEAVY REAL LOADING AT NODE 14
Line Lmn LQP FVSI VCPI(P) VCPI(Q) LVSI

Line Lmn LQP FVSI VCPI(P) VCPI(Q) LVSI 10 0.9992 0.9855 0.9844 0.9363 0.9362 1.361

10 0.9854 0.9345 0.9344 0.8763 0.8762 1.011 20 0.9304 0.9288 0.8919 0.9247 0.9258 0.986

3 0.8201 0.8119 0.8236 0.7524 0.7519 0.856

19 0.9104 0.9008 0.8999 0.8239 0.8238 0.936
8 0.5967 0.5125 0.5688 0.5691 0.5286 0.961
14 0.6670 0.6319 0.6212 0.5960 0.5961 0.899

8 0.5337 0.5136 0.5129 0.4963 0.4924 0.834

The small addition of load fails to be converged the load
flow solution and indicates that the loading is critical and
very close to system instability. The increasing load for
node 14 is carried through lines 10, 19, 14 and 8.The exces-
sive load through line 10 made it critical and also the sys-
tem is at the verge of voltage collapse. The six line voltage
stability indices are tabulated are shown above indicates
the line has the index value which is close to 1.00 is consi-
dered as the critical line and while adding of load is taken
to be very secure condition in order to avoid the voltage in-
stability. Single node reactive load change for node 14 is il-
lustrated as shown below in table 2.The heavy reactive load
(0.55 p.u) at node 14 made line 14,19 to be most critical
with a highly stability value of nearer to 1.00. The other
lines which are connected to node 14 also became critical.
Therefore it can be concluded that the loading is critical
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Similarly the nodal VSI are obtained for various combina-
tion of load change at various bus nodes. The Lj index per-
mits the determination of the weakest bus in the sys-
tem.Generaly L increase s with the increase in load, but the
Ipi and Iqi and Ii decrease with increase in load. The thre-
shold value of L index is supposed to 1.00 whereas I has
the threshold value of 0.5.The value I not only decrease
gradually with increase in load but its threshold value is
also near 0.5 in many cases, making it much more reliable
in indicating the proximity of voltage collapse. Therefore
for secure system operation one can fix a value of I>0.5(say
Ii=0.6) .The following table 4 illustrates the nodal VSI for 14
bus system. The threshold index I gives the value of nearer
to 0.6 values in the same loading condition of line VSI.The
L index gives the value nearer to 1.00 at all loading condi-
tions. Again it shows the node 14 is the weakest bus in the
system.All the simulated conditions the variation of indices
with respect to the variation of load are observed to see
4
their behavior to load changes especially close to the prox-
imity of voltage collapse.
TABLE 4
NODAL VSI FOR ALL TYPES OF LOADING
Loading Bus
Lj Iqi Ipi
P.U no
P=1.89 14 0.9969 0.6643 0.6518
Q=0.55 14 0.9845 0.5783 0.5739
P =1.75
14 0.9927 0.5901 0.5930
Q=0.53
Thus the various indices give the results of various load
conditions during voltage instability. The voltage collapse
point cannot be determined by a single VSI value, thus
many indices are compared and the critical lines are de-
tected and the safety and secure control actions are taken to
prevent the total blackout.
A comparative study of Volatge Stability Indices has been
done by many researchers for various purposes such as for
contingency ranking, for placing shunt FACTS controller.
But this comparative study of line and nodal VSI is used to
determine the maximum loadability limit of the power sys-
tem.These indices are the voltage collapse predictor for the
power system, sometimes at maximum loading factor the
voltage may be instable but the power system won’t be vol-
tage collapsed. At this situation, voltage collapse can be de-
termined by these VSI by having the value nearer to
1(voltage collapse).
5 CONCLUSION
This paper presents a comparative study and analysis of
the performances of various Line VSI and Nodal VSI for
detecting the weakest area and the loadability margin of
the power system. On line monitering of the system status
is vital for smooth and reliable operation as well as unin-
terrupted dispatching of load.The proposed method con-
centrated on the system stability and security monitoring.
The application of those indices on IEEE 14 bus testing sys-
tem gave accurate results and it can be used as an alarm
indication tool to prevent voltage collapse and cascading
blackouts. The tabulated result indicates that the bus 14 is
the weakest bus and the line connected to the node 14 is the
critical lines in the system.For any state of loading each line
will have a stability index and based on that value of stabil-
ity index an idea about the stressful situation of that line
could be achieved.The implementation of this technique in
areal system would ease the work of operation and plan-
ning personnel.
ACKNOWLEDMENT
The authors wish to thank the Management, Principal and
Staff of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, for
providing necessary facilities to carry out this work. The
help of Dr. Federico Milano in using PSAT is greatly ac-
knowledged.
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