Domain of Stability Characterization for Power Systems: A Novel Individual Invariance Method

In this article, we approach the problem of stability in nonlinear systems through a new perspective that views them as a combination of individual artificial systems carefully chosen to simplify the complex structure of nonlinear systems. This is achieved by recasting nonlinear vector fields as an algebraic sum of individual vector fields for which artificial systems with known invariant sets or at least in forms that allow for tractable approximation of their invariant sets. This attempt to restructure nonlinear systems stands out in comparison to other previous attempts like Lure' systems or network based models as a purely mathematical structuring technique that transcends the physical constraints and dependencies within dynamical models and allows the user to creatively construct artificial systems with the sole focus on the overall stability. The theoretical foundation is provided for a theorem about individual invariance to relate the invariant sets of individual artificial systems to the invariant set of their original system in a way that significantly simplifies the task of approximating regions of attraction. Several examples are used to demonstrate this theorem and we also evaluate the use this theorem for the challenging power system stability problems in both AC and DC grids. The proposed method is successfully applied to the IEEE 39-bus New England system, and a DC converter with constant power load giving accurate and realistic estimations of the critical clearing time and stability regions in comparison to state of the art approaches.