For optimal transmission network planning, projects involving both long-range and short-range planning have been conducted. Many important contributions have been made, as illustrated by the extensive publication record on this subject. In particular, we were selected to give a critical review paper on optimal expansion planning, which subsequently was used as a basis for the Department of Energy's long-range research plan in this area.
For long-range planning, the basic objective is to identify the type, location and timing of network additions, or changes, at minimum cost subject to the reliability constraints dictated by thermal limits under both normal and emergency operating conditions. The derived solution also maximizes right-of-way utilization and accounts for load-profile uncertainties, using worst-case or other probabilistic definitions. For short-range planning, the thrust of the work is to determine all feasible plans which guarantee a certain level of reliability and then to identify the best strategy for selecting one of these plans in terms of cost, reliability, and other considerations, such as environmental limitations and governmental policies.
Numerical techniques employed in our studies include the use of both linear programming (LP) and nonlinear programming (NL) and statistical design methods for obtaining the solutions. Consequently, considerable experience in applying these methods to power system planning and operation has been obtained as is illustrated in the publications which use NL methods. The NL methods employed for the various studies include the gradient method, mixed-integer programming, SUMT method, minimax method, etc. Of special interest is the comprehensive study performed on the effectiveness of using some of the NL methods in transmission network planning as in reference.
The following papers illustrate our work in power system sensitivities:
1. "Statistical Power Transmission Network Design", R. Fischl, A. Guvenis, and T.F. Halpin, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems, Vol. CAS-29, No.10, pp. 679-87, October 1982.
2. "Methods in Transmission Network Expansion Planning", R. Fischl, W.J. Huckins, T.F. Ho, S. Hurtak, Paper No. A77-504-4, 1977 IEEE Summer Meeting, Mexico City, Mexico, July 1977.
3. "Identification of a set of Reliable Transmission Expansion Plans Within a Given Budget: Part II - Algorithm for Identifying the Design Set", with T.F. Ho, R. Fischl, 1977 PICA Conference Proceeding, pp. 114- Toronto, Canada, May 1977.
4. "Identification of a Set of Reliable Transmission Expansion Plans Within a Given Budget : Part I - The Algorithm for Identifying the Design Set", T.F. Ho, R. Fischl, 1977 PICA Conference Proceeding, pp. 106-113, Toronto Canada, May 1977.
5. "Optimal System Expansion: A Critical Review", R. Fischl, Proceedings of ERDA System Engineering Conference on Power: Status and Prospects, Henniker, New Hampshire, August 1975, pp. 233-260
6. "Electric Power Transmission Network Planning by Nonlinear Mixed-Integer Programming", W. Schiefele, R. Fischl, MACC Conference Proceedings, Milwaukee, Wis., April 1975.
7. "Computer Aided Design of Electric Power Transmission Networks", W.R. Puntel, R. Fischl, Paper No. C72-168-8, 1972 Winter Power Meeting, New York, N.Y. January 1972.
