Application of Hopf bifurcation theory for determining critical value of a generator control or load parameter

Abstract Many of the present day power system networks are being operated close to their operating limits or in stressed conditions. For understanding the nonlinear behaviour of such systems, bifurcation and nonlinear dynamical system theory play an important role. Hopf bifurcation theory has been used, in the present work, to determine the critical values of control system and load parameters. A detailed nonlinear dynamical model of a generator along with its excitation control and turbine governing system loop and motor loads have been considered. The hard limiters in the generator control loops have been modelled using a new approach in an analytic form and its load torque as nonlinear function of speed. The analyses have been carried out on two sample systems one consisting of a single and the other containing multiple generators.