Bifurcations and chaos in electric power systems: Numerical studies (Q1899777)

The dynamical bifurcation of two power systems derived and simplified from physical power systems is numerically investigated by varying one and two parameters. The power systems are three-bus and nine-bus systems producing 4- and 11-dimensional O.D.E.'s respectively. Super- and subcritical Hopf-, period doubling -- and saddle node bifurcations are numerically observed. A chaotic parameter regime -- after a sequence of period doublings -- is also found. Bifurcation curves are drawn in the parameter plane (using the software package AUTO). Chaos is confirmed by the computation of Lyapunov exponents, by orbits of the Poincaré map and by power spectra. It is discussed whether bifurcation and chaos can occur in real power systems and may provide explanations of various power systems instabilities such as voltage collapse, low-frequency oscillations and voltage flicker. The necessity of the use of powerful numerical continuation algorithms for equilibria and periodic orbits of large systems is pointed out. A survey about continuation software is given which is (unfortunately) limited to the electrical engineering community.