Disturbances in a power transmission system

Abstract

A simple model for a power transmission system is presented. In this model, disturbances of all sizes may occur. They are randomly triggered and have the characteristic behavior of avalanches. A single parameter describes the scaling of the avalanche size. This parameter combines a measure of closeness to the maximum load, size of transferred loads during an overloading event, and connectivity of the system. The probability distribution function of the size of the disturbance has power-scaling range with the exponent close to -1.