Decision tree based filter for control area external contingencies screening

The security of modern large interconnected power systems suffers from the absence of a unique security coordinator for the entire system. The presence of a security coordinator for such systems allows the detection of both internal and external harmful contingencies of each control area under his responsibility. The high economic costs and the technical and administrative complexities among others, makes it a very difficult task to create a security coordinator for such very large interconnected power systems. In the absence of a full information exchange, the operators´ alternative solution to the existence of a security coordinator is the on-line exchange of their post-contingency boundary buses power injections resulting from the analysis of their internal contingencies. In fact, this exchange enables the operators to assess the impact of the external contingencies on their own control areas. In this context, the operators´ major problem is how they can assess on-line, in relatively short time, the impact of a large number of external contingencies on their systems. This paper presents an innovative approach for a rapid screening of control area external contingencies allowing only the dangerous ones to be assessed in detail by the operators.