An improved framework for power grid vulnerability analysis considering critical system features

In recent years the rapid development of complex network theory has provided a new angle on the vulnerability analysis of a power grid. However, current analysis models are usually general ones that may ignore some specific features of power systems. In order to address the issue, this paper proposes an improved framework for the vulnerability analysis of power grids. Firstly, the traditional topology based graph model is improved by depicting a power grid as a weighted graph based on the reactance matrix. Secondly, the concept of load is redefined by using power angle information. Thirdly, the power flow constraints are adopted instead of the shortest path based flow scheme. Based on the proposed framework, an improved dynamic analysis model is developed. In addition, numerical simulations for both a general traditional model and the proposed model are investigated based on the IEEE 118-bus system respectively. The comparison demonstrates that the improved model is more effective and efficient for the vulnerability analysis of a power grid. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.