10.

2 Voltage Performance of a System 175

1.0
p.u.

SA S

Fig. 10.1 S–V curve

performed, the bus voltage may be reduced to 0.95 p.u. What happens if we
continue increasing the load? A simple trajectory for the case is shown in
Fig. 10.1. After a certain point (point A), no solution may be found by running an
ACLF. The system is considered to be voltage unstable for any load higher than
SA. This curve is commonly referred to S–V curve in power system terminology.
Instead of S, either, P or Q may be increased; and Q–V or P–V curves gen-
erated. Even if S is increased, the voltage performance may be drawn in terms of
Q or P. Moreover, instead of increasing the load of a specific bus, the load of the
entire system may be increased. These aspects are normally studied in the so called
static voltage stability analysis (as opposed to dynamic type2). The static term is
used as the approach followed in V-curves generations is based on algebraic load
flow equations. The dynamic type is based on detailed differential equations,
beyond the scope of this book.
Lets us come back to a typical Q–V curve for two cases (Fig. 10.2). In both
cases, the voltage of operating point is 1.0 p.u. In other word, the voltage profiles
of both cases are considered to be the same and acceptable. However, in case I, the
distance to the nose point (the so called critical point3) is lower. In other words,
the voltage stability performance of case II is better. This distance may be
considered as the relative merit of voltage stability performance, denoted by Pstab.
To find Pstab for the whole system, the reactive power loads of all buses
are proportionally increased until the nose point is reached for the weakest bus.
The total reactive power increase is considered as Pstab.4

2
See the list of the references at the end of the chapter.
3
Also called collapse point.
4
Other indices may also be used. For further details, see the list of the references at the end of
this chapter.