The presence of inter-area oscillations has long affected stability constraints, and therefore, limited the power transfer capacity of interconnected power systems. Adequate damping of these inter-area oscillations is, thus, necessary to secure system operation and ensure system reliability while increasing power transfers. Power system stabilizers (PSS) are the most common devices used to enhance the damping of such oscillations. Many studies have demonstrated that PSSs using remote signals may perform better than using local signals. The advent of phasor measurement units (PMU) makes remote or wide-area signals become available, which enables various important applications. Of particular interest is wide-area damping control (WADC), which aims to utilize remote or wide-area measurements to damp the inter-area oscillations. However, two main challenges in WADC design are (1) feedback controller input signal selection (which PMU signal is best to use?), and (2) latency (which is inherent in the transmission of the measurements) considerations. In response to the first challenge, this thesis proposes a concept called dominant inter-area oscillation path, which serves to pinpoint a set of candidate signals that can be used as the feedback controller inputs by locating the interconnected corridors where the inter-area modal contents are the most observable. Derivation, identification, and use of the dominant inter-area oscillation paths are demonstrated throughout the thesis. Extensive analysis on the relationships between the proposed set of signals and system properties regarding stability and robustness is presented. To tackle the second challenge, the impacts of time delays on the system performance when using the dominant path signals are investigated. To date, several studies have proposed different control design methods using various oscillation dampers to design WADC. Nevertheless, neither a systematic method nor a concept that encompasses fundamental knowledge on power system dynamics has yet been offered. The objective of this thesis is, thus, to propose an analytical framework based on the dominant path concept which is built upon fundamental principles for feedback controller input signal selection in WADC. With this framework, a proper and systematic approach is developed. The proposed method allows to select appropriate signals and use them to effectively mitigate the inter-area oscillations that constrain power transfer capacity and affect system stability. / <p>QC 20150414</p>

Traditional power system stability assessment based on full model computation shows its drawbacks in real-time applications where fast variations are present at both demand side and supply side. This work presents the use of data mining techniques, in particular the Decision Trees (DTs), for fast evaluation of power system oscillatory stability and voltage stability from synchrophasor measurements. A regression tree-based approach is proposed to predict the stability margins. Modal analysis and continuation power flow are the tools used to build the knowledge base for off-line DT training. Corresponding metrics include the damping ratio of critical electromechanical oscillation mode and MW-distance to the voltage instability region. Classification trees are used to group an operating point into predefined stability state based on the value of corresponding stability indicator. A novel methodology for knowledge base creation has been elaborated to assure practical and sufficient training data. Encouraging results are obtained through performance examination. The robustness of the proposed predictor to measurement errors and system topological variations is analyzed. A scheme has been proposed to tackle the problem of when and how to update the data mining tool for seamless online stability monitoring. The optimal placement for the phasor measurement units (PMU) based on the importance of DT variables is suggested. A measurement-based voltage stability index is proposed and evaluated using field PMU measurements. It is later revised to evaluate the impact of wind generation on distribution system voltage stability. Next, a new data mining tool, the Probabilistic Collocation Method (PCM), is presented as a computationally efficient method to conduct the uncertainty analysis. As compared with the traditional Monte Carlo simulation method, the collocation method could provide a quite accurate approximation with fewer simulation runs. Finally, we show how to overcome the disadvantages of mode meters and ringdown analyzers by using DTs to directly map synchrophasor measurements to predefined oscillatory stability states. The proposed measurement-based approach is examined using synthetic data from simulations on IEEE test systems, and PMU measurements collected from field substations. Results indicate that the proposed method complements the traditional model-based approach, enhancing situational awareness of control center operators in real time stability monitoring and control.

The introduction of synchrophasor technology to the realm of power systems has presented a myriad of novel approaches to age-old problems. In this thesis, the questions of instrument transformer calibration and transmission line parameter estimation have been examined. With synchrophasors offering real-time data for analysis, a solution to each individual problem seems feasible. A quandary however arises due to the fact that calibration methods depend on accurate knowledge of line parameters, and estimation of these parameters depend on calibrated measurements. Traditional methods of determining the parameters may not be the most accurate due to a variety of fluctuations possible on the system, which is why real-time estimation could prove beneficial. This work analyzes each problem and a feasible solution and proposes a method to achieve transducer calibration as well as parameter estimation together, while employing synchronized phasor measurements. / Master of Science

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-11T15:15:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 joaotitoalmeidavianna.pdf: 4307092 bytes, checksum: 061d2a47a7e37bf6c1a1875c27f352ad (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-04-18T12:47:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 joaotitoalmeidavianna.pdf: 4307092 bytes, checksum: 061d2a47a7e37bf6c1a1875c27f352ad (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T12:47:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 joaotitoalmeidavianna.pdf: 4307092 bytes, checksum: 061d2a47a7e37bf6c1a1875c27f352ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-05 / O presente trabalho tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento de alternativas para detecção de faltas de alta impedância (HIFs) sustentadas em sistemas de distribuição. Como a maioria destas faltas é monofásica, enfoque foi dado para este tipo de falta no desenvolvimento do trabalho. Devido ao desequilíbrio e a variação da carga dos sistemas de distribuição, a proteção tradicional dos mesmos apresenta dificuldades na detecção destas faltas, que acabam se sustentando no sistema. Isso acarreta um risco de segurança pública, na medida em que estruturas externas ao sistema elétrico são mantidas energizadas representando risco a vidas que entrem em contato com elas. Características da topologia típica de sistemas de distribuição brasileiros (conhecida como do “tipo europeu”) foram exploradas de forma a se elaborar duas propostas de métodos de detecção e localização de HIFs. Ambos os métodos se baseiam na alocação de medidores alocados ao longo do sistema de distribuição, cujas medidas são integradas a uma central de dados via rede de comunicação. Nesta central, as medidas recebidas são analisadas de forma a diagnosticar a presença e localização de faltas monofásicas de alta impedância no sistema e emitir alarmes que descrevam a situação atual do mesmo. O primeiro método, o PDSZ, baseia-se em medições fasoriais sincronizadas e, além da detecção e localização, conta com um algoritmo de classificação das fases envolvidas na falta. Já o segundo (PQDSZ) baseia-se em medições não fasoriais e não possui esta última funcionalidade. Ambos os métodos são implementados em laboratório e simulados com o uso de um Simulador Digital de Tempo Real (RTDS), o que permite uma validação bem próxima da aplicação dos métodos em um sistema real. Tais simulações comprovam a aplicabilidade dos métodos propostos e todos os resultados são analisados de forma a confirmar este fato. / This work aims to develop alternatives for the detection of sustained high impedance faults (HIFs) on distribution power systems. As the majority of these faults are single phase ones, the development was focused on this kind of fault. Due to load unbalance and variation of the distribution systems, the traditional protectiontechniques presents problems on detecting these faults, which are kept sustained on the system. This situation represents a serious public hazard, because the external electrical system structure remains energized, representing a risk to lives that eventually get in touch with it. There is also the risk of starting a fire from this fault point. Topologycal features of Brasilian distribution systems (known as “european type”) were exploited in order to elaborate two methods for detection and localization of HIFs. Both methods are based on the use of meters alocated along the distribution system, whose measurements are sent to a central data concentrator, through a network communication. Then, the received measurements are analysed in order to diagnose the ocurrence of single phase high impedance faults on the system and send alarms that describe the current system situation. The first method, named PDSZ, is based on Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and besides detecting and locating the fault, can also classify it, showing which phaseis involved. The second one, the PQDSZ, is based on non-synchronized measurements and can not classify the fault. Both methods were implemented on laboratory and tested using real equipament and a Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS), which allows a very precise evaluation of the proposed methods, emulating conditions very similar the real ones. The simulations prove the aplicability of the proposed methods and the results are analysed in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.