A New Model of Frequency Delay in Power Systems

Observations of slow frequency signals in power systems have been explained by continuum wave equations that approximate the system's electromechanical dynamics. These continuum models predict that the signal speed is a function of the rotational inertia of the generators and impedances of the transmission lines. Here, we show that frequency signals with speeds modulated by these factors are predicted by the swing and Kirchhoff equations, without resorting to a continuum model. Our analysis also shows that the precision of the sensors used to measure frequency has a significant impact on the apparent speed of the frequency signal.