Parallel-in-space implementation of transient stability analysis on a Linux cluster with infiniband

On-line transient stability analysis is an inevitable way to provide real time power system security and control. Parallel computing is one of the most viable ways to perform on-line transient stability analysis. This paper presents the performance results of a parallel-in-space algorithm based on a multilevel partitioning scheme on an Infiniband cluster system. The algorithm decreases the transient stability simulation time using METIS for partitioning in conjunction with the linearized update solution process of the Very Dishonest Newton Method when solving the differential-algebraic systems of equations [1]. Two real power systems, a 3493-bus system with 844 generators and a 7935-bus system with 2135 generators, are tested on a Linux-cluster system with 16 nodes. Each node has 2 multicore processors and is connected to each other by Infiniband network. The properties of a test system have a large impact on the performance of the parallel algorithm used, since it affects communication duration.