Computation of Maximum Loading Points via the Factored Load Flow

This paper presents a fast and straightforward algorithm to obtain the maximum loading points of power systems by simply performing bisection searches between feasible and infeasible load flow cases. The proposed method exploits the ability and robustness of the factored load flow solution procedure to converge to complex solutions well beyond the maximum loadability points. Test cases on a diversity of benchmark cases show that the new method is computationally attractive when compared with existing continuation power flow methods.