POWER SYSTEM STABILITY
Normal condition of a power system
➢Under normal conditions, a power system works as a synchronous
system.
➢ i.e., all the machines in the power system are synchronized with each
other. They run at a common frequency.
➢When faults and other disturbances occur on the power system, the
system may or may not remain in synchronism.
➢We will study all this in power system stability.
Definitions
➢A power system stability is the ability of a power system to remain in
synchronism in spite of the disturbances occurring on the system.
➢It is the ability of the power system for a given initial operating
condition, to regain a new state of equilibrium after being subjected
to a disturbance.
➢Power system stability is that attribute of a power system whereby it
develops restraining forces amongst its elements , these restraining
forces greater than or equal to the disturbing forces so as to restore a
state of equilibrium amongst the elements.
Disturbances on the system
• Disturbances on the system can be
➢ Small disturbances- a small gradual change in load on the system.
➢Large disturbances- a large sudden change in load on the system, loss
of generation or transmission on the system due to faults.
Classification of stability
• Depending on the magnitude of the disturbances, stability is classified
as
1. Steady state stability- Here we consider the small gradual load
changes occurring on the system.
2. Dynamic stability-Here we consider the small disturbances existing
for a prolonged period of time.
3. Transient stability- Here we consider the large sudden changes
occurring on the system.
Steady state stability
• A system is said to have steady state stability if, in spite of the small
disturbances occurring on it, the system comes back to a state of
equilibrium.
• Say we have a stable system, Generation = Demand =100 MW.
• Initially say rotor lags behind the stator by a load angle δ0
Steady state stability
• Say, load on the system increases gradually by 1 MW (i.e. by 1 %).
• The rotor will lag behind the stator from δ0 to a new angle δm
• The rotor because of its inertia will not stop at δm but will now
traverse a return path.
Steady state stability
• It will come back to δ0 and then keep on oscillating between δ0 and δm
• Gradually the oscillations get damped and the system settles at a new
equilibrium position of δ1. At δ1 again the generation =new demand.
Swing Curve
• The plot between load angle δ and time ‘t’ is called the swing curve.
Dynamic stability
• Under dynamic stability, the small disturbances occurring on the
system for a prolonged period of time are considered.
Dynamic stability ctd..
Say for a stable system, say the normal rotor speed =N.
➢As the system load increases, the turbine speed decreases. So, the rotor speed
becomes < N. This change in the speed is sensed by the flyballs which act to
increase the generation.
➢The generation increases to meet this load increase. Accordingly the decreased
speed increases. The speed increases and becomes normal N once again.
➢But the fuel supply goes on increasing. So now the rotor speed becomes >N. This
increased speed is once again sensed by the flyballs which act to decrease the
generation.
➢So, as the generation decreases, the increased speed now decreases and
becomes normal N again.
➢But then the generation now goes on decreasing. So once again the rotor speed
becomes < N (normal speed.)
➢This is again sensed by the flyballs and the cycle goes on.
➢The reverse happens when the load on the system decreases.
Dynamic stability ctd..
• So, any change of load on the system is accompanied by oscillations in
the rotor angular position and the fuel input.
• If the amplitude of these oscillations is large and the oscillations do
not die out quickly, the system is said to be dynamically unstable.
Dynamic stability ctd..
• But, if the amplitude of these oscillations is small and the oscillations
die out quickly, the system is said to be dynamically stable.
Transient state stability
• A system is said to have transient state stability if, in spite of the large
complex disturbances occurring on the system, it comes back to a
state of equilibrium.
• Say we have a stable system, Generation = Demand =100 MW.
• Initially say rotor lags behind the stator by a load angle δ0
Transient stability ctd..
• Say, load on the system increases suddenly by 50 MW (i.e. by 50 %).
• Following this huge increase in the load,
• Either the rotor will lag continuously behind the stator from δ0 and
δ goes on increasing indefinitely leading to instability of the system.
Transient stability ctd..
• Or if the system is capable of withstanding such a sudden disturbance, the rotor
will lag behind the stator from δ0 to a new angle δm
• The rotor because of its inertia will not stop at δm but will now traverse a return
path.
• It will come back to δ0 and then keep on oscillating between δ0 and δm
• Gradually the oscillations will get damped and the system settles at a new
equilibrium position of load angle δ1. At δ1 again the generation =new demand.
Stability limit
• The maximum power that can be transferred through any part of the
power system is called the stability limit.
• Steady state stability limit(SSSL)- The maximum power that can be
transferred through any part of the power system when small disturbances
occur on the system is called the steady state stability limit.
• Transient state stability limit(TSSL)- The maximum power that can be
transferred through any part of the power system when sudden large
disturbances occur on the system is called the transient state stability limit.
• During, large disturbances like loss of generation, transmission etc, either a
generator may be cut off or transmission lines may be cut off. So the
maximum power transferred under such conditions is always less.
• So, TSSL< SSSL.
