Learn how to implement BCU methods for fast direct stability assessments of electric power systems Electric power providers around the world rely on stability analysis programs to help ensure uninterrupted service to their customers. These programs are typically based on step-by-step numerical integrations of power system stability models to simulate system dynamic behaviors. Unfortunately, this offline practice is inadequate to deal with current operating environments. For years, direct methods have held the promise of providing real-time stability assessments; however, these methods have presented several challenges and limitations. This book addresses these challenges and limitations with the BCU methods developed by author Hsiao-Dong Chiang. To date, BCU methods have been adopted by twelve major utility companies in Asia and North America. In addition, BCU methods are the only direct methods adopted by the Electric Power Research Institute in its latest version of DIRECT 4.0. Everything you need to take full advantage of BCU methods is provided, including: Theoretical foundations of direct methods Theoretical foundations of energy functions BCU methods and their theoretical foundations Group-based BCU method and its applications Numerical studies on industrial models and data Armed with a solid foundation in the underlying theory of direct methods, energy functions, and BCU methods, you'll discover how to efficiently solve complex practical problems in stability analysis. Most chapters begin with an introduction and end with concluding remarks, making it easy for you to implement these tested and proven methods that will help you avoid costly and dangerous power outages.

Voltage Stability is a relatively recent and challenging problem in Power Systems Engineering. It is gaining in importance as the trend of operating power systems closer to their limits continues to increase. Voltage Stability of Electric Power Systems presents a clear description of voltage instability and collapse phenomena. It proposes a uniform and coherent theoretical framework for analysis and covers state-of-the-art methods. The book describes practical methods that can be used for voltage security assessment and offers a variety of examples.

The market liberalization is expected to affect drastically the operation of power systems, which under economical pressure and increasing amount of transactions are being operated much closer to their limits than previously. These changes put the system operators faced with rather different and much more problematic scenarios than in the past. They have now to calculate available transfer capabilities and manage congestion problems in a near on line environment, while operating the transmission system under extremely stressed conditions. This requires highly reliable and efficient software aids, which today are non-existent, or not yet in use. One of the most problematic issues, very much needed but not yet en countered today, is on-line dynamic security assessment and control, enabling the power system to withstand unexpected contingencies without experienc ing voltage or transient instabilities. This monograph is devoted to a unified approach to transient stability assessment and control, called SIngle Machine Equivalent (S1ME).