Application of Wide-Area Power System Stabilizer for Damping of Inter-area Oscillations

Abstract

Inter-area oscillations (IAO) are a main concern for the stability of power systems. Conventional controllers used for IAO damping depend on local signals. Damping provided by such controllers is sometimes insufficient, as the controller does not have enough information of the inter-area modes from local signals. With extensive research and development in the field of wide-area measurement system (WAMS), signals from remote points of the system can be obtained and utilized along with local signals, thereby providing better damping for the inter-area modes. This brings with it its own set of challenges, from choosing the appropriate remote signal to be utilized to time delays due to measurement and transmission delays of the communication network. In this paper, a summary of the various works that have been carried out by researchers, pertaining to development of wide-area control (WAC) for various power system devices, mainly wide-area power system stabilizer (PSS) for synchronous generators is discussed. The wide-area PSS is used in a two-area, four-machine power system, and it’s effectiveness in damping out IAO is demonstrated. Eigenvalue analysis is carried out. Time-domain simulations are used to validate the eigen-inferences. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.