Using a Newton method and LAPACK libraries to initialize electromagnetic transient simulations in power systems

•An algorithm to initialize electromagnetic transient simulations is presented.•It is a viable alternative to the use of a power-flow program in power systems.•LAPACK libraries are used to reduce the computation time.•Simulations of the IEEE 5, 14, 30, 57, and 118-bus system were carried-out.

This paper describes and applies a Newton method based on a Numerical Differentiation process to initialize electromagnetic transient simulations in power systems. In order to increase the simulation speed, LAPACK libraries are used to efficiently handle matrix operations. Simulations of the application of the method to the IEEE 5, 14, 30, 57 and 118-bus test systems are presented. Comparisons with a classical Brute Force approach are conducted to establish the efficiency of the proposed numerical algorithm. This method can be used as an alternative to the application of power-flow program to solve the initial value problem in electromagnetic transient studies.