On a class of new and practical performance indexes for approximation of fold bifurcations of nonlinear power flow equations (Q1602770)

The article gives a survey of several methods for estimation of fold bifurcation points including the continuation methods, the bifurcation method and the test function methods. The authors find that many test functions can provide useful indicators to determine if a fold point has been reached, but are not useful in predicting the performance index (i.e. the distance to the fold point). They suggest a new way of analysing the behaviour of the determinants of the Jacobian matrix and its submatrices and consequently designing determinant-based test function methods. For several standard IEEE test systems promising numerical results are achieved.