Study on the structural complexity of large scale power grids

A comprehensive grasp of the structural complexity of electric power grid is of great significance for understanding the security and stability mechanism of power grid. Topology graph models for several large scale power grids of China based on the topological connection are established, and some standard measures and metrics of complex network theory are introduced to quantify the structure of these grids. It is found that this kind of graph model and its statistical properties can reveal some important structure characteristics of power grid from different aspects, while the limitation also exists and is analyzed. Aiming at this limitation, an electrical distance graph model which reflects the Ohm´s and Kirchhoff´s laws is established. The results of network statistical properties suggest some markedly distinct structure characteristics with those in topology graph models. The K-K algorithm, a kind of complex network layout algorithm, is also applied to demonstrate the electric power network structure.