Electric power system

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Case Study Showcase

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elease time：2025-04-25

【Summary Description 】 The main components of a power system include the power source, the electricity network, and the load center.

The main structural components of a power system include power sources, the power network, and load centers. Power sources refer to various types of power plants and substations that convert primary energy into electrical energy. The power network consists of step-up substations at power sources, transmission lines, load center substations, distribution lines, and more. Its primary function is to transmit electricity—after being stepped up to the appropriate voltage level at power plants—to load center substations, where it is then reduced to lower voltages before being distributed via distribution lines to connect with end-users. Within the power system, the network features thousands of interconnected nodes, creating an intricate web. Active power flows, reactive power flows, higher-order harmonics, and negative-sequence currents propagate throughout the entire system at nearly the speed of light. While this robust infrastructure enables the efficient delivery of vast amounts of electricity, thereby generating immense economic value, it also poses a significant risk: even a minor fault can quickly escalate into a catastrophic failure. To ensure the safe, stable, and cost-effective operation of the power system, it is essential to deploy advanced automatic control devices and communication systems tailored to specific requirements at different operational levels. These components collectively form an "information and control subsystem," which acts as the neural network facilitating seamless communication across the power system. This subsystem not only enhances the system's observability and controllability but also plays a critical role in maintaining the smooth flow of electricity from generation to consumption—and in enabling rapid, effective responses to emergencies or abnormal conditions.