Optimal Power Flow Design for Enhancing Dynamic Performance: Potentials of Reactive Power

We present a new optimal power flow (OPF) design that not only optimizes fuel cost but also enhances dynamic performance of a power system. Performance is quantified by the H_2 -norm of the transfer matrix from any disturbance input to a set of performance outputs, which in this case are chosen as the frequencies of the generators. The H_2 -norm models the attenuation of the frequency amplitudes following the disturbance, and thereby quantifies the amount of damping torque induced on the tie-line flows. The method, referred to as H_2 -power flow modification ( H_2 -PFM) is carried out in two steps. First, the regular OPF is solved to obtain the optimal generator setpoints for active and reactive power dispatch. Second, the load setpoints are re-tuned to minimize the aforesaid H_2 -norm while keeping the generator setpoints fixed. In particular, manipulating the load reactive power in this way is found to reduce the norm remarkably, improving disturbance attenuation and damping. A gradient descent algorithm is proposed for this minimization. Results are validated using the 68-bus test system with a solar farm.