The uncertainty and complexity involved in determining generation constraints have increased due to the geographical imbalance between large-scale generation complexes and major load centers, the reduction in system inertia caused by the expansion of ...
The uncertainty and complexity involved in determining generation constraints have increased due to the geographical imbalance between large-scale generation complexes and major load centers, the reduction in system inertia caused by the expansion of renewable energy resources, and hourly variations in demand and generator operating conditions. Conventional approaches based on representative operating conditions or seasonal operation plans have limitations in reflecting actual hourly system states. In addition, a physical limit derived solely from stability analysis does not necessarily represent the output that generators can actually achieve under practical operating constraints.
This study proposes a dynamic-stability-based methodology for estimating effective generation constraints while considering generator operating constraints. First, a 24-hour time-series database for stability analysis is constructed using historical operating data, including hourly demand, generator output, and unit commitment status. Power-flow convergence and dynamic initialization are verified for each hourly case. Subsequently, the output of the constrained generator group is increased stepwise, while the output of the balancing generator group is reduced to maintain the supply–demand balance. For each output level, contingency simulations are conducted, and transient stability and frequency stability are simultaneously evaluated using the relative rotor-angle response and the post-contingency frequency nadir. The maximum output satisfying both stability criteria is defined as the hourly generation constraint limit. To reduce the computational burden of repeated dynamic simulations, a Binary Search–based boundary-search procedure is applied. The resulting stability-based generation constraint limits are then imposed as hourly upper bounds in a mixed-integer linear programming model. The model incorporates generator minimum and maximum output limits, operating reserve requirements, ramp-rate constraints, and start-up and shut-down conditions to determine the effective generation constraint.
A case study is conducted for a major transmission corridor connecting generation complexes on the east coast of Korea to the load center in the Seoul metropolitan area. During the analyzed day, system demand ranges from 40.5 to 60.8 GW, while the number of committed generators varies from 186 to 293. The average actual output of the constrained generator group is approximately 2.10 GW, whereas the average dynamic-stability-based generation constraint limit is approximately 4.53 GW, resulting in an average difference of about 2.43 GW. When a 10% reserve requirement is applied, the average number of committed units increases from 5.46 to 5.96. Under ramp-rate limits of 50, 150, and 300 MW/h, the average effective generation constraints are approximately 3.31, 4.24, and 4.33 GW, respectively. The application of generator start-up constraints also restricts output increases during the initial operating hours and delays the time required to reach the stability-based generation limit. These results demonstrate that the output actually available for operation can vary substantially depending on generator operating constraints, even when the same stability-based limit is applied.
By integrating hourly system conditions, dynamic-stability limits, and generator operating constraints into a unified analytical framework, this study provides a method for distinguishing the potential output margin permitted by system stability from the output level that can actually be achieved in operation. The proposed method also enables the limiting cause of a generation constraint to be identified as either a system dynamic-stability issue or an operating restriction associated with reserve requirements, ramping capability, or generator commitment status. The proposed methodology can be further utilized as an operational support tool for online stability assessment, generator scheduling, and renewable-energy hosting-capacity studies.