A62: Undergrad Research II

Mon. March 4, 8:36 a.m. – 8:48 a.m. CST

208CD

The electric power grid is an essential networked structure of energy distribution, and the consequences of its power outages encompass social and economic repercussions. Historical events, including the blackouts of Brazil in 2009 and 2011, the 2003 blackout in the United States and Canada, and the 2019 extensive outage in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay underscore the critical need to comprehend these systems for socioeconomic safety. This work uses an extended topological approach to study Brazil's power grid structure and cascade dynamics. We estimate degree distribution, clustering coefficient, and average path length to characterize the network configuration. Our model incorporates electrical properties, such as impedance and power flow, enhancing real-world applicability. We analyze potential contingency scenarios, investigate the robustness of the power grid, and identify the network's most vulnerable components. Furthermore, we explore power grid cascade failures to understand how such events can emerge and propagate.