Reliability analysis of capacity and voltage constrained, optimally operated, electric power systems

A method for reliability evaluation of capacity and voltage constrained bulk power systems is suggested based upon contingency analysis. For each contingency and consumer load demand situation assumed, the optimal operation of the power system is established that minimizes the total system consumer curtailment cost. Consumer demands at different nodes may be treated as synchronous or as mutually uncorrelated quantities, depending on the data available. The method uses a version of the decoupled power flow network model that makes its possible to determine optimal generation of both real and reactive powers for the system sequentially. This property makes the method superior to other available approaches for bulk power system reliability analysis. An illustrative example is included.