Inter-Area Oscillation Damping with Power System Stabilizers and Synchronized Phasor Measurements

Abstract

Low frequency oscillations are detrimental to the goals of maximum power transfer and optimal power system security. A contemporary solution to this problem is the addition of power system stabilizers to the automatic voltage regulators on the generators in the power system. The damping provided by this additional stabilizer provides the means to reduce the inhibiting effects of the oscillations.

This thesis is an investigation of the use of synchronized phasor measurements as input signals for power system stabilizers installed on the generators of a two-area, 4-machine test power system. A remote measurement feedback controller has been designed and placed in the test power system. Synchronized phasor measurements from optimally sited measurement units were shown to improve the damping of low-frequency inter-area oscillations present in the test system when the proposed controller was included in the generator feedback control loop. The benefit of the damping of these oscillations was evident through the ability to increase the tie-line power flowing in the test system once the proposed control scheme was implemented. Time-domain simulations were used to verify the robustness of the proposed control during severe events, such as a short- circuit or sudden large variations of load.