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POWER SYSTEM STABILITY - A technical report and a short course

Technical Report · February 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29798.73281

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 POWER SYSTEM STABILITY
A technical report and a short course
By
Prof. Dr. Mohamed EL-Shimy Mahmoud
(http://shimymb.tripod.com)

Overview
Power system stability denotes the ability of an electric power system, for a
given initial operating condition, to regain a state of operating equilibrium after
being subjected to a physical disturbance, with most system variables bounded so
that system integrity is preserved. The integrity of the system is preserved when
practically the entire power system remains intact with no tripping of generators or
loads, except for those disconnected by isolation of the faulted elements or
intentionally tripped to preserve the continuity of operation of the rest of the system.
Stability is a condition of equilibrium between opposing forces; instability results
when a disturbance leads to a sustained imbalance between the opposing forces.
Due to the high dimensionality and complexity of stability problems, it is
essential to make simplifying assumptions and to analyze specific types of problems
using the right degree of detail of system representation. The power system is a
highly nonlinear system that operates in a constantly changing environment; loads,
generator outputs, topology, and key operating parameters change continually.
When subjected to a transient disturbance, the stability of the system depends on the
nature of the disturbance as well as the initial operating condition. The disturbance
may be small or large. Small disturbances in the form of load changes occur
continually, and the system adjusts to the changing conditions. The system must be
able to operate satisfactorily under these conditions and successfully meet the load
demand. It must also be able to survive numerous disturbances of a severe nature,
such as a short circuit on a transmission line or loss of a large generator.
Following a transient disturbance, if the power system is stable, it will reach a
new equilibrium state with practically the entire system intact; the actions of
automatic controls and possibly human operators will eventually restore the system
to a normal state. On the other hand, if the system is unstable, it will result in a
runaway or a run-down situation; for example, a progressive increase in angular
separation of generator rotors, or a progressive decrease in bus voltages. An unstable

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system condition could lead to cascading outages and a shutdown of a major portion
of the power system.
The response of the power system to a disturbance may involve much of the
equipment. For instance, a fault on a critical element followed by its isolation by
protective relays will cause variations in power flows, network bus voltages, and
machine rotor speeds; the voltage variations will actuate both generator and
transmission network voltage regulators; the generator speed variations will actuate
prime mover governors; and the voltage and frequency variations will affect the
system loads to varying degrees depending on their individual characteristics.
Further, devices used to protect individual equipment may respond to variations in
system variables and thereby affect the power system performance. A typical
modern power system is thus a very high-order multivariable process whose
dynamic performance is influenced by a wide array of devices with different
response rates and characteristics. Hence, instability in a power system may occur in
many different ways depending on the system topology, operating mode, and the
form of the disturbance.
Traditionally, the stability problem has been one of maintaining synchronous
operation. Since power systems rely on synchronous machines for the generation of
electrical power, a necessary condition for satisfactory system operation is that all
synchronous machines remain in synchronism or, colloquially, ‘‘in step.’’ This aspect
of stability is influenced by the dynamics of generator rotor angles and power-angle
relationships.
Instability may also be encountered without the loss of synchronism. For
example, a system consisting of a generator feeding an induction motor can become
unstable due to collapse of load voltage. In this instance, it is the stability and control
of voltage that is the issue, rather than the maintenance of synchronism. This type of
instability can also occur in the case of loads covering an extensive area in a large
system.
In the event of a significant load/generation mismatch, generator and prime
mover controls become important, as well as system controls and special protections.
If not properly coordinated, it is possible for the system frequency to become
unstable, and generating units and/or loads may ultimately be tripped possibly
leading to a system blackout. This is another case where the units may remain in
synchronism (until tripped by such protections as under-frequency), but the system
becomes unstable.
This report/course treats power system stability problems and their
equipment modeling requirements and limitations. Methods of assessment and

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enhancements of power system stability are discussed in details. Computer analysis
of power system stability problems is demonstrated through running of professional
computer programs such as PSAT, and PST.

Main objectives
1. Understanding power system stability problems and their classification.
2. Understanding modeling requirements of power system equipment for
different studies.
3. Understanding causes of instability and methods of analysis and
enhancement of different power system small and large disturbance rotor
angle stability phenomena.
4. Understanding different methods and techniques of power system stability
controls and their limitations.
5. Using computer packages for analysis of power system stability problems.

Contents

Module 1
Power System Stability – Definition
Power System Stability – Classifications
 Rotor Angle Stability
 Voltage Stability
 Frequency Stability
Power System Representation
Per-Unit Representation
Concepts of Modeling of Power System Components
 Steady State Models
 Dynamic Models
Models and Constants of Basic Power System Components
 Synchronous Generator
 Power Transformer
 Transmission Lines
 Underground Electrical Lines ( Cables )
 Induction Motors
 Load Models
Models and Constants of Basic Generator Controls

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  Automatic Voltage Regulators
 Speed Governors
 Power System Stabilizers

Module 2
Steady State Analysis – Load Flow Problem
Rotor Angle Stability Analysis
 Transient Stability Analysis
 Small-Signal Stability Analysis

Module 3
Computer Programs for Power System Stability Analysis
 Open-Source Programs
 Commercial Programs
Computer simulation of power system transient stability
Computer simulation of small-signal stability

Module 4
Voltage Stability Analysis
 Voltage Stability Analysis
 Mitigation of voltage stability problems
 Computer Simulation of voltage stability problems

Module 5
Power system stability controls
Approaches
 Reduction of the disturbing influence
 Increasing the restoring synchronizing forces
 Enhancing the system configuration and operating conditions
 Proper choice of intrinsic limits and setting of operating limits
 Corrective actions for various contingencies
Methods
 Turbine fast valving

 Generator tripping
 Rapid switching and high-speed fault clearing

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  Reclosers
 Dynamic braking by braking resistors
 Fault Current Limiters
 Reduction of the transmission system reactance
 Regulated shunt compensators
 Single-pole switching or independent-pole braking operationsLoad
shedding
 Islanding
 Parallel HVDC and HVAC transmission
 FACTS devices, and damping of power oscillations

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