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The large number of unstable equilibrium modes embedded in the strange attractor of dissipative chaotic systems usually presents a sufficiently rich repertoire for the choice of the desirable motion a...

Critical points and transitions in an electric power transmission model for cascading failure blackouts

Chaos 12, 985 (2002); doi:10.1063/1.1505810

Published 9 September 2002

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B. A. Carreras and V. E. Lynch
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831

I. Dobson
ECE Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

D. E. Newman
Physics Department, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775
Cascading failures in large-scale electric power transmission systems are an important cause of blackouts. Analysis of North American blackout data has revealed power law (algebraic) tails in the blackout size probability distribution which suggests a dynamical origin. With this observation as motivation, we examine cascading failure in a simplified transmission system model as load power demand is increased. The model represents generators, loads, the transmission line network, and the operating limits on these components. Two types of critical points are identified and are characterized by transmission line flow limits and generator capability limits, respectively. Results are obtained for tree networks of a regular form and a more realistic 118-node network. It is found that operation near critical points can produce power law tails in the blackout size probability distribution similar to those observed. The complex nature of the solution space due to the interaction of the two critical points is examined.©2002 American Institute of Physics.
History: Received 1 March 2002; accepted 10 July 2002; published 9 September 2002
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?CHAOEH/12/985/1

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords
PACS
  • 84.70.+p
    Electronics; radiowave and microwave technology; direct energy conversion and storage High-current and high-voltage technology: power systems; power transmission lines and cables (including superconducting cables)
  • 02.50.Cw
    Mathematical methods in physics Probability theory, stochastic processes, and statistics Probability theory
  • YEAR: 2002

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PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:
1054-1500 (print)   1089-7682 (online)
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REFERENCES (23)

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