CALCULATING OPTIMAL SYSTEM PARAMETERS TO MAXIMIZE THE DISTANCE TO SADDLE-NODE BIFURCATIONS

This paper presents a new methodology to calculate parameters of a non linear system, so that its distance to a saddle-node bifurcation is ma ximized with respect to the particular parameters that drive the syste m to bifurcation. The technique is thoroughly justified, specifying th e conditions when it can be applied and the numeric mechanisms to obta in the desired solutions. A comparison is also carried out between the proposed method and a known methodology to determine closest saddle-n ode bifurcations in a particular power system model, showing that the new technique is a generalization of the previous method. Finally, app lications to power systems are discussed, particularly regarding the d esign of some PACTS devices, and a simple generator-line-load example is studied to illustrate the use of the proposed technique to determin e the optimal shunt and/or series compensation to maximize distances t o voltage collapse, The effect of the optimal compensation on the stab ility of the sample system is also analyzed.