Use of Max-Flow on FACTS Devices

Abstract—FACTS devices can be used to mitigate cascading failures in a power grid by controlling the power flow in individual lines. Placement and control are significant issues. We present a procedure for determining whether a scenario can be mitigated using the concept of maximum flow. If it can be mitigated, we determine what placement and control setting will solve the scenario. This paper treats fourteen cascading failure scenarios and reports on the use of the max-flow algorithm both in determining the mitigation of each scenario and in finding FACTS settings that will mitigate the scenario. Index Terms—Flexible AC Transmission System, FACTS placement, cascading failure, maximum flow, power system. I