Research on the Structural Characteristics of Transmission Grid Based on Complex Network Theory

Abstract

Reasonable and strong structure is an important foundation for the smart transmission grid. For vigorously promoting construction of the smart grid, it is of great significance to have a thorough understanding of the complex structural characteristics of the power grid. The structural characteristics of several actual large-scale power grids of China are studied in this paper based on the complex network theory. Firstly, the topology-based network model of power grid is recalled for analyzing the statistical characteristic parameters. The result demonstrated that although some statistical characteristic parameters could reflect the topological characteristics of power grid from different ways, they have certain limitation in representing the electrical characteristics of power grid. Subsequently, the network model based on the electrical distance is established considering the limitation of topology-based model, which reflects that current and voltage distribution in the power grid are subject to Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Law. Comparing with the topology-based model, the electrical distance-based model performs better in reflecting the natural electrical characteristic structure of power grid, especially intuitive and effective in analyzing clustering characteristics and agglomeration characteristics of power grid. These two models could complement each other.

An SNA-DEA Prioritization Framework to Identify Critical Nodes of Gas Networks: The Case of the US Interstate Gas Infrastructure

“…Although SNA was developed to investigate social interactions among people, it has also been used to perform analysis in non-social structures [30,31]. SNA concepts and metrics have been employed in various fields, such as the World Wide Web [32,33]; product development [34,35]; spread of epidemic disease [36]; physics [37]; diffusion of new ideas, knowledge, and inventions [38][39][40]; air traffic routes among airports [41][42][43]; logistics and transportation [44]; and electric power grids [45][46][47]. Particularly, complex network theory has been utilized to assess the vulnerability of the European power transmission grid with respect to extreme space weather [48].…”

Visualizing the Electrical Structure of Power Systems

“…Forcedirected graph layout algorithms (e.g [18]) can achieve this, and they have been deployed in this role [12,19]. The treatment of [12] is comprehensive, and the visualization they present was shown in usability trials to aid system operators in identifying salient features of the power system, for instance allowing rapid and easy recognition of several diverse synchronous islands.…”

An Evolving Network Model for Power Grids Based on Geometrical Location Clusters

“…The development of complex network modeling methods opens up a new way for the analysis of the operating state of power systems, providing a new perspective and a new research method. Using the perspective of complex networks [2]- [5] to analyze and study power grids can help to grasp the complexity of power grids and the dynamic characteristics of the whole network response as a whole. In the complex network theory [6], the modeling method is also called model analysis method, which regards the large system in nature as a network of interactions between a large number of individuals, and then studies its statistical characteristics and its evolution property.…”