Model of Cascading Failures in Power Systems

In bulk power system, cascading failures initiated by normal failures often lead to blackouts. For the purpose of researching how failures spread in power grids, estimating the risk and the loss of cascading failures, and finding key lines and some effective methods to lower the risk of occurring of cascading failures, this paper establishes a cascading failure model allowing for hidden failures and power system frequency response characteristics. The model is tested on IEEE RTS96 system and the critical value of rate of loading in relation to risk of cascading failures, key lines and the risk index of some operating state of this system are obtained. Finally, the model is used to analyze the impacts of several key parameters on IEEE-RTS96 system and get several relevant mitigative measures.