Power transfer limits calculation has to be performed taking into account static and dynamic aspects. Therefore, a huge amount of data needs to be manipulated. The transfer limits values are important in power system planning analysis, as they might represent an energetic constraint between two or more systems. In this way, besides the different load conditions, the limits calculation must consider different energetic scenarios, which increases even more the task of operational points adjustment. The related process is addressed through different ways around the world. In Brazil, a low level of automation is observed. In order to help on this task development, the paper presents a methodology to calculate power transfer limits between different areas, using an optimal power flow program. The proposed method is adequate for applications in the Brazilian power system.

Este artigo descreve a concepção de um novo aplicativo computacional (Anatopo) composto por diversos módulos, visando a identificação, diagnóstico e vários tipos de tratamento de configurações topológicas representativas de sistemas de potência descritos por grafos. Tais grafos são definidos por listas de nós (e.g. subestações ou barras), ramos longitudinais (e.g. linhas de transmissão, transformadores, elementos série) e transversais (e.g. cargas, injeções, capacitores e reatores em derivação). O utilitário proposto é útil para operações de pré-processamento de estudos convencionais de fluxo de potência, fluxo de potência ótimo, curto-circuito, confiabilidade, estimação de estado, estabilidade, ou para a avaliação de propriedades estruturais inerentes à topologia de redes.

This paper describes a computer program (Anatopo) useful for dealing with actual large scale power systems described by graphs, defined by a list of nodes (e.g. substations) and branches (e.g. transmission lines). The program have several independent modules which can be applied to a power system, producing a set of diagnoses and topological operations previously selected by the analyst. It has several practical applications related with studies involving the evaluation of power flows, short-circuits, grid structural properties and many others.