Comparing the Topological and Electrical Structure of the North American Electric Power Infrastructure

Details Comparing the Topological and Electrical Structure of the North American Electric Power Infrastructure Comparing the Topological and Electrical Structure of the North American Electric Power Infrastructure

2011-05-01

arxiv.org/abs/1105.0214v3

Physics

Physics and Society

Scientific paper

The topological (graph) structure of complex networks often provides valuable information about the performance and vulnerability of the network. However, there are multiple ways to represent a given network as a graph. Electric power transmission and distribution networks have a topological structure that is straightforward to represent and analyze as a graph. However, simple graph models neglect the comprehensive connections between components that result from Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws. This paper describes the structure of the three North American electric power interconnections, from the perspective of both topological and electrical connectivity. We compare the simple topology of these networks with that of random (Erdos and Renyi, 1959), preferential-attachment (Barabasi and Albert, 1999) and small-world (Watts and Strogatz, 1998) networks of equivalent sizes and find that power grids differ substantially from these abstract models in degree distribution, clustering, diameter and assortativity, and thus conclude that these topological forms may be misleading as models of power systems. To study the electrical connectivity of power systems, we propose a new method for representing electrical structure using electrical distances rather than geographic connections. Comparisons of these two representations of the North American power networks reveal notable differences between the electrical and topological structure of electric power networks.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Comparing the Topological and Electrical Structure of the North American Electric Power Infrastructure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Comparing the Topological and Electrical Structure of the North American Electric Power Infrastructure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Comparing the Topological and Electrical Structure of the North American Electric Power Infrastructure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-426114