ATC computational issues [electricity supply]

A method of calculating Available Transfer Capability (ATC) and the exploration of the relative effects of certain computational issues are described. Specifically, the calculation of ATC is laid out for the purposes of pointing out the various computational aspects that affect it, such as algorithmic tolerances and source/sink composition among others. Test cases from the Pennsylvania-Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Interconnection is used to obtain results on this study. Among the inferences obtained from this work is the necessity to properly account for uncertainties that exist not only in the physical structure of the power system but also those that exist in the computation of its properties reflected in ATC evaluation. In addition, from the studies on sink composition we notice from ATC values, underlying behavior that are characteristic of sub-areas within a given control area. The quantification of such effects can lead to better understanding of the underlying properties involved in ATC computation.