Loading margin calculation with line switching: A decomposition method

This paper presents a model for loading margin calculation integrated with transmission line switching. A mixed-integer nonlinear optimization model is developed which maximizes the loading margin of the system subject to various operational system constraints. An iterative algorithm, based on the Benders decomposition method, is used to solve the problem. The proposed method is tested on medium and large scale test systems and optimization results are compared with that of a non-decomposed method to show the efficacy of the proposed approach.