Example ATC Calculation Procedure

(Rated System Path Method)

Seasonal Base Case

A
61

71
17
0

0
16

18 MVA

80 MVA
Max Rating
11
5

5
10

33

28

A power transfer from A to D has been proposed and this example will attempt to demonstrate
how the maximum possible reliable transfer is determined.
This illustration displays flows that would be obtained from a seasonal base case power flow
model, and represent the branches of the Identified A-D Path.
Red quantities are maximum allowable flows based on most limiting equipment.
A,B,C & D represent areas or points in the system that contain generation and/or distributed load.
Note for this example:
Total Transfer Capability (TTC) for each segment is considered equal to the maximum flow rating.
Existing Transmission Commitments (ETC) for each segment is equal to the flow shown here
resulting from the base case power flow simulation.

Power Transfer from A to D Simulated during Normal System Conditions

+ 40MW Generation

A
TDF

78

94

ITC

0.425

160 61
233
0.425

17
0

0
16

0.575
172

78 61
40

22 MVA
0.100

620

80
11
5

5
10

51

50

0.450
160

0.550
158

+ 40MW Load

This is the limiting element because it can

accommodate the least total transfer. In
other words, if the generator and load were
increased to 158MW, this branch would have
115MVA flowing, and the flows on all other
branches would be less than maximum.

This figure illustrates how branch flows in the transfer path would change for an arbitrary but
realistic interchange of 40MW.
The flows shown here are during N-0 or normal system conditions with all elements in service.
A linear analysis is then used to calculate the maximum possible transfer:
1. Calculate the Transfer Distribution Factor (TDF) for each branch. TDF represents what
fraction of the total transfer appears on a given segment.
2. Calculate the Incremental Transfer Capability (ITC) for each branch. ITC represents the
maximum total transfer each branch could accommodate over and above base flows.
3. The branch with the lowest ITC will be the limiting element for this transfer.
4. Calculate the ATC for that limiting element: ATC = TTC ETC**
5. The ATC of this limiting element is considered the ATC for this A-D path during normal
system conditions.
Segment C-D is the limiting element in transfer path A-D with an ITC = 158MVA, therefore the ATC
for path A-D is TTC ETC for this element.
ATC = 115 28 = 87MVA during N-0 Conditions.
Notice that simply calculating TTC- ETC for each branch and using the minimum would not yield
the same results.
**(TRM and CBM neglected and considered zero in this example)

Power Transfer from A to D Simulated during N-1 Conditions

(Loss of a Single Transmission Element)
Standards state that ATC values shall be valid during normal system conditions (N-0) and single
contingency conditions (N-1). Therefore, all significant outages within the system must be
considered, and the previous analysis effectively repeated to determine the limiting path element
during outage conditions.
The following figures will attempt to demonstrate this analysis process.
Although only the five branch segments in this example are opened and the power transfer
analyzed, the real power system must consider many more outages greatly exceeding those in
the transfer path.
+ 40MW
Generation

This is how much the flow changed

FCDF

132

132 61
71

1.00

173

This was the flow on the outaged branch

0
16

0
16

Most Limiting Element for this Outage

42 MVA

-30 MVA

80

0.30

167

80

10

11

10

10
-0.32

50
0.31

11
5

-0.68

173 132
1.00
40
160 132
FCITC
28
1.00

FCTDF

22
0.30
317

78
0.70
93

+ 40MW
Load

Prior to Transfer

With Transfer

Line Segment A B Out of Service

The flows shown here are during N-1 or single outage conditions.
The same linear analysis is performed to calculate the maximum possible transfer for this outage:
1. Introduce and calculate yet another quantity called First Contingency Distribution Factor (FCDF) for each
branch. FCDF represents what fraction of the flow that was on the outaged branch shifts and flows on the
given branch. This value will be particularly useful when calculating ATCs for slightly varying system
conditions.
2. Calculate the First Contingency Transfer Distribution Factor (FCTDF) for each branch. FCTDF represents
what fraction of the total transfer appears on a given segment.
3. Calculate the First Contingency Incremental Transfer Capability (FCITC) for each branch. FCITC represents
the maximum total transfer each branch could accommodate, over and above base flows.
4. The branch with the lowest FCITC will be the limiting element for this transfer and this outage.
Branch A-C is the limiting element for this outage with an ITC of 28MW. This means that during this outage, with
these system conditions, only 28MW of total transfer would be possible. (neglecting TRM and CBM)

+ 40MW
Generation

A
Most Limiting Element for this Outage

173

132

17

17
0

1.00
38

1.00

77 MVA

60 MVA
0.69

80

0.43

80

47

10

75

0.30

11
5

11

10

51

0.60
90

-0.31

26
0.43
249

+ 40MW
Load

Prior to Transfer

With Transfer

Line Segment A C Out of Service

+ 40MW
Generation

A
68
0
17

0.53
175

0
16

0
16

C
10

11
0.50

18
-0.56

5
10

42

11

-0.50

89

83
0.53
206

0.39

17
0

62

63
0.53
120

Most Limiting Element for this Outage

D
+ 40MW
Load

Prior to Transfer

Line Segment B C Out of Service

38
0.50
194

With Transfer

+ 40MW
Generation

A
69

17

17
0

0.60
152

59 MVA

42 MVA
0.73

11

89

80

80

0.43

11
5

0
16

0.24

0
16

-0.27

93

79
0.43
254

62

61
1.00

102
1.00
53

Most Limiting Element for this Outage

+ 40MW
Load

Prior to Transfer

With Transfer

Line Segment B - D Out of Service

+ 40MW
Generation

A
51

17
0

-0.68

16

0
16

0.32

63

110
0.75
120

-0.36

17

80

0.30
363

13 MVA

-1 MVA

80

0.30

80

263

5
10

10
5

102

61

1.00
43

1.00

D
Most Limiting Element for this Outage

+ 40MW
Load

Prior to Transfer

Line Segment C - D Out of Service

With Transfer

Interpreting the Results

N-0 ANALYSIS
Segment C-D was the limiting branch in the Transfer Path because the Incremental Transfer
Capability was the smallest at ITC=158.
Therefore, the ATC for this A-D path during normal system conditions is:
ATC for Path = TTC for this branch - ETC for this branch (pre-transfer)
ATC = 115 28 = 87MVA
N-1 ANALYSIS
Looking at the results of all outages, indicates that branch A-C is the limiting element for an
outage of A-B. A-C had the smallest ITC of 28, meaning that only 28MVA of total transfer is
possible if branch A-B is out of service.
Therefore, the ATC for this A-D path during single outage conditions is:
ATC for Path = TTC for this branch - ETC for this branch (pre-transfer, post-outage)
ATC = 160 132 = 28MVA
The minimum of N-0, N-1 ATC determines the Overall ATC rating for this A-D path for these
modeled system conditions.
FINAL RESULT .. Path A-D ATC = 28MVA

Calculating ATC for Varying System Conditions

After the ATC analysis and Distribution Factors are calculated, the ATC for this path can be determined for
moderately varying system conditions.
Using N-0 flows (possibly real time or historical SCADA) on the worst outage element (A-B) and limiting element
(A-C), a new ATC can be determined.
Consider the known or predicted flows shown in the different normal system conditions figure below. What
would be the resulting ATC for this A-D path?

1.00
1.00

92 = 44+(1.0)*48.0

44

0
16

0
16

48

FCDF
FCTDF

18

C
29

22

D
Worst Outage Conditions

Forecasted Normal Conditions

New Flow = Old Flow + FCDF*(pre-outage element flow)

Using the Worst Outage results shows that A-C would have 92 MVA of flow for worst outage conditions. With Total
Transfer Capacity of 160, these determine ATC = 160 92 = 68 MVA. There is 68MVA of Capacity left on this line for
further commercial activity.
Since the FCTDF of this line is 1.00, means that 68/1.0 = 68MW of total transfer would be possible. If 68MW of total
transfer is occurring, branch A-B would be loaded to 160MVA while all other branches are less than maximum loaded.
Other branch loadings could also be predicted using the Distribution Factors calculated in the detailed ATC analysis.
Below are the results which agree well with power flow model.
+ 68 MW
Generation

A
160
0
16

34.8 MVA

80
10
11
5

33.6

84.5

D
+ 68 MW
Load

Maximum Transfer During Worst Outage

Predicted Conditions
Author: dan.lyons@aquila.com
Use it any way you like