Security boundary visualization for systems operation

Abstract

This paper presents a security assessment approach for operational planning studies that provides the operator with accurate boundary visualization in terms of easily monitored precontingency information. The approach is modeled after traditional security assessment procedures which result in use of a nomogram for characterizing the security boundaries; these procedures are common among many North American utilities today. Therefore, the approach builds on what is already familiar in the industry, but it takes advantage of computer automation and neural networks for generating and understanding large data bases. The appeal of the approach is threefold: it provides increased accuracy in boundary representation, it reduces the labor traditionally required in generating security boundaries, and the resulting boundaries, encoded in fast, flexible C subroutines, can be integrated into energy management system software to provide the operator with compact, understandable boundary illustration in real time. These improvements are of particular interest in se curely operating transmission systems close to their limits so as to fully utilize existing facilities.