A critical evaluation of step size optimization based load flow methods

In this paper, a critical evaluation of three Newton load flow methods based on step size optimization is carried out. These methods are based on the computation of a scalar multiplier at each iteration, which is multiplied by the voltage correction vector so as to minimize a power mismatch based quadratic function. Special attention was paid to evaluating the performance of these methods for ill-conditioned, heavily loaded and overloaded systems. The possibility of using them as general load flow tools is also discussed. These methods can also play an important role in voltage stability analysis methods for the determination of load margins to voltage collapse.