Optimal Transmission Switching Using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming to Mitigate Loadability Issues in Power Systems Under N-k Contingencies

The electrical power system relies on several factors, such as control, monitoring, energy balance, demand, voltage, frequency, and the capacity of transmission lines to distribute energy to consumers. When a transmission line is switched, it can lead to an increased electrical flow in adjacent lines, resulting in overloads. This paper proposes the use of Optimal Transmission Switching (OTS) through Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) to mitigate loadability issues in power systems under N-k contingencies. Overloads in transmission lines, often caused by disconnections, increase the normal load of the line due to a rise in current intensity, leading to thermal damage in the conductors. OTS reconfigures the transmission system topology to redistribute power flows, ensuring normal system operation after switching. The results show that OTS effectively redistributes the electrical flow in the lines, and in N-4 contingency scenarios, the loadability increases to 75% of its maximum capacity.