Load Flow Analysis Using Newton-Raphson and Gauss-Seidel Methods

Load Flow Analysis Using Newton-Raphson and Gauss-Seidel Methods

Load flow analysis , also known as power flow analysis , is an essential task in power system studies. It determines the steady-state voltages , real and reactive power flows , and power losses in a power network under normal operating conditions. It is vital for: Designing future expansion Optimizing existing networks Real-time monitoring Planning contingencies The load flow problem is inherently non-linear , and its solution requires iterative numerical methods. Among the most commonly used techniques are: Gauss-Seidel Method Newton-Raphson Method This article will cover both these methods in detail, explain their differences, and discuss where and when to use them. 1. Power Flow Problem Formulation For a power system with n buses , we categorize buses as: Slack Bus : Voltage magnitude and angle are specified (reference bus). PV Bus : Real power and voltage magnitude are specified. PQ Bus : Real and reactive powers are specified. The power flow equations for bus i are: P i = ∑ j = 1 n ∣ V i ∣ ∣ V j ∣ ∣ Y i j ∣ cos ⁡ ( θ i j + δ j − δ i ) P…