Transfer-Matrix Method for Electromagnetic Transient Simulation in Power Systems

This paper addresses the low simulation efficiency of electromagnetic transient (EMT) analysis in power systems using the traditional node-voltage method, which suffers from high matrix order and heavy computational burden. We propose the application of the circuit transfer-matrix method to EMT simulation. Using a no-load, lossless single-phase transmission-line switching-in example, we compare the proposed approach with EMTP results obtained via the node-voltage method. The results demonstrate that the transfer-matrix method maintains computational accuracy while significantly reducing equation order and accelerating simulation speed. Next, based on circuit transfer-matrix theory, we derive element transfer-matrix expressions using phasors as state variables. By arranging each phasor’s real and imaginary parts as separate scalar state variables, the method simultaneously captures both magnitude and phase and preserves a concise matrix structure. We then introduce a radial-circuit transfer-matrix method and present corresponding network assembly and solution strategies. Comparison with node-voltage results verifies the feasibility of the proposed approach, and its numerical stability is further confirmed on extended radial networks. A timing comparison between the two methods shows that the transfer-matrix method is more practical and efficient for real-world engineering applications. Finally, we conclude that this method can be broadly applied to dynamic simulations of power systems with complex topologies.