Graphical interaction and visualization for the analysis and interpretation of contingency analysis results

Contingency analysis is a well known function in modern energy management systems (EMS). The goal of this power system analysis function is to give the operator information about the static security status of the network. Technically this is achieved by running as many power flow cases as there are possible single element contingency scenarios in the network including lines, transformers and generators. Although no longer posing any mathematical problems, contingency analysis is a very critical function because of the overwhelming amount of information created during contingency analysis runs. In today's EMS, this problem is solved by giving tabular information indicating the overloads caused by which contingency. However, if there are overloads the operator does not get any support. There is no help offered as to which actions must be taken. Also the question of the underlying power system problem remains answered. There is usually no single best answer to this problem. This is recognized in this paper by describing a toolset based on image visualization and interaction of the whole set of data coming out of contingency analysis.