Dynamic Contingency Analysis Tool (DCAT)

DCAT is a cutting-edge, open-source tool that empowers grid planners to simulate, analyze, and mitigate cascading power outages using hybrid dynamic-steady-state modeling and real-world protection systems.

The Dynamic Contingency Analysis Tool (DCAT) is an open-platform and publicly available methodology to help develop applications that aim to improve the capabilities of power system planning engineers to assess the impact and likelihood of extreme contingencies and potential cascading events across their systems and interconnections. Outputs from DCAT will help find mitigation solutions to reduce the risk of cascading outages in technically sound and effective ways. It has the following features: It uses a hybrid dynamic and steady-state approach to simulating the cascading outage sequences that includes fast dynamic and slower steady-state events. It integrates dynamic models with protection scheme models for generation, transmission, and load. It models special protection systems (SPSs)/remedial action schemes (RASs) and automatic and manual corrective actions. Overall, the DCAT attempts to bridge multiple gaps in cascading-outage analysis in a single, unique prototype tool capable of automatically simulating and analyzing cascading sequences in real systems using multiprocessor computers.

Map image of a metropolitan area that includes individual cascading events labeled

DCAT simulates finer details of cascading grid.

Publications

Journal Publications
  • Vyakaranam B., N. Samaan, Y. Makarov, T. Nguyen, Y. Chen, and J. Dagle, et al. 2025. "A Hybrid Dynamic/Steady-State Tool With Protection Simulation for Cascading-Outage Analysis of Extreme Events in Power Systems," IEEE Access, vol. 13, pp. 103823-103833. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3578245, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11033199
  • Guddanti K., B. Vyakaranam, T.B. Nguyen, S. Kincic, P.V. Etingov, Q.H. Nguyen, and N.A. Samaan, et al. 2022. "Identification of Voltage Stability Critical Locations for Future Large Grids with Dynamics and High Renewable Mix," IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy. PNNL-SA-178082
  • Qin C., K. Prudhvi Guddanti, B. Vyakaranam, T. Nguyen, K. Mahapatra, Q. Nguyen, Z. Hou, P. Etingov, and N. Samaan. "Critical Zone Identification Framework for Bulk Electric System Security Assessment," International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
  • Guddanti K., B. Vyakaranam, K. Mahapatra, Z. Hou, P.V. Etingov, N.A. Samaan, and T.B. Nguyen, et al. 2023. "Dynamic Security Analysis Framework for Future Large Grids with High Renewable Penetrations," IEEE Access 11. PNNL-SA-174886. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3238316
  • Vyakaranam B., K. Mahapatra, X. Li, H. Wang, P.V. Etingov, Z. Hou, and Q.H. Nguyen, et al. 2021. "Novel Data-Driven Distributed Learning Framework for Solving AC Power Flow for Large Interconnected Systems," IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy 8. PNNL-SA-158500. doi:10.1109/OAJPE.2021.3092264
     
Conference Publications
  • Vyakaranam B., N. Samaan, B. Thomas, W.W. Price, M. Vallem, R. Huang, R. Diao, and Y. Makarov, “Modeling of Protection Relays using Generic Models in System-Wide Power System Dynamic Simulation Studies,” IEEE PES General Meeting, 2018
  • Dong F., B. Vyakaranam, N. Samaan, R. Huang, B. Thomas, W.W. Price, M. Vallem, “Restoration of System Security with Optimized Corrective Actions,” IEEE PES General Meeting, 2018
  • Huang Q., B. Vyakaranam, R. Diao, Y. Makarov, N. Samaan, M.R. Vallem, and E. Pajuelo, "Modeling Zone-3 Protection with Generic Relay Models for Dynamic Contingency Analysis," in the Proc. of IEEE/PES General Meeting, Chicago, July 2017
  • Vyakaranam B., A. Berscheid, M. Vallem, N. Samaan, X. Ke, Y. Makarov, J. Dagle, R. Diao, “Novel Additions to DCAT to Analyze What-if Scenarios of Protection Maloperation and Intermittent Resources on Cascading Failures for Extreme Events,” IEEE PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, April 2018
  • Vyakaranam B., V. Mallikarjuna, T. Nguyen, N. Samaan, A. Berscheid, Y.V. Makarov, R. Diao, “A Study of the Impact of Peak Demand on Increasing Vulnerability of Cascading Failures to Extreme Contingency Events," in the Proc. of IEEE/PES General Meeting, Chicago, July 2017
  • Vallem M., B. Vyakaranam, J. Holzer, N. Samaan, Y.V. Makarov, R. Diao, Q. Huang, and X. Ke, “Hybrid Cascading Outage Analysis of Extreme Events with Optimized Corrective Actions,” in the Proc. of The 2017 Intelligent Systems Application to Power Systems (ISAP) Conference, San Antonio, September 2017
  • Samaan N.A., J.E. Dagle, Y.V. Makarov, R. Diao, M.R. Vallem, T.B. Nguyen, L.E. Miller, B.G. Vyakaranam, S. Wang, F.K. Tuffner, M.A. Pai, J. Conto, and S.W. Kang, “Modeling of Protection in Dynamic Simulation Using Generic Relay Models and Settings,” in the Proc. of IEEE/PES General Meeting, Boston, July 2016
     
Reports/User Manuals
  • Samaan N.A., J.E. Dagle, Y.V. Makarov, R. Diao, M.R. Vallem, T.B. Nguyen, L.E. Miller, B. Vyakaranam, S. Wang, F.K. Tuffner, and M.A. Pai, "Dynamic Contingency Analysis Tool Phase 1," PNNL-24843, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
  • Vyakaranam B., N.A. Samaan, X. Li, R. Huang, Y. Chen, M.R. Vallem, and T.B. Nguyen, et al. 2019. "Dynamic Contingency Analysis Tool 2.0 User Manual with Test System Examples," Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
  • Vyakaranam B., N.A. Samaan, R. Huang, S.T. Ojetola. 2018. “Dynamic Contingency Analysis Tool (DCAT) User Manual for Use with GE PSLF” 
  • Other DCAT publications on Research Gate