Wide-Area monitoring and control algorithms for large power systems using synchrophasors

Power system operation is constantly facing contingencies such as from line faults and generator outages. For operational reliability, the system must be able to withstand the contingencies, either by itself (for N-1 contingency) or with the help of Special Protection Schemes (SPS) or Remedial Action Schemes (for N-2 or worse contingencies). When the system is operating under unforeseen conditions or under unusually high stress, the system can face dynamic instability related to any of voltage stability, small-signal stability or transient stability phenomena. At Washington State University, we have been developing real-time monitoring and control algorithms for handling these three types of instability phenomena using wide-area synchrophasor measurements. The presentation will highlight the different phenomena and the tools that have been developed for fast detection and mitigation of the instability mechanisms.