A novel Q-Limit guided Continuation Power Flow method

This paper presents a novel bifurcation point computation method based on the continuation power flow method. The new method considers the reactive power limits of generators as a part of the algorithmic procedure. The algorithmic continuation steps are guided by the prediction of Q-limit breaking points. Lagrange polynomial interpolation formula is used in this paper in order to find the Q-limit breaking point indices that determine when a generatorpsilas regulating reactive power output has reached its limits. The algorithmic continuation steps will then be guided by skipping to the closest Q-limit breaking point, consequently reducing the number of continuation steps and saving computational time. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the IEEE 9, 30 and 118 bus test systems.