Implementation of Synchrophasor
Technology at CAISO
Dede Subakti, P. E.
Vice President, System Operations
August 12, 2021
Agenda
• Introduction
• Describe how synchrophasor data is being shared in the
Western Interconnection of North America
• Describe the NERC standard (US Grid Code) requiring
operational awareness of inter-area oscillations
• Describe what applications and processes are utilizing
synchrophasor data for the purpose of situational
awareness
Page 2
California ISO and Reliability Coordinator West
CAISO is the Reliability CAISO is the Balancing Authority and
Coordinator for ~80% of the Transmission Operator for ~80% of California
Western Interconnection
Slide 3
Synchrophasor data sharing in the Western
Interconnection of North America
• Entities in the RC West footprint
are on the new AT&T WISP
network.
• Incoming PMU data is being
utilized in different applications.
• Data being shared between all
entities through the network
Page 4
NERC IRO-002-7 requirements and implementation
(US Grid Code for Western Interconnection)
• Reliability Coordinators
required to implement process
to determine the impact of
inter-area oscillations.
• A list of the existing PMU
signals that are available for
the accurate calculation of
Western Interconnection inter-
area mode parameters are
created and maintained
Page 5
Inter-area oscillations
• Mode-Meter implemented in RTDMS
to monitor inter-area oscillations
• Pre-defined angle pairs utilized for
monitoring energy and damping of five
modes. Coordinated effort to ensure
that all entities monitoring modes are
utilizing the same settings and naming
conventions.
• Operators receive alarm for sustained
low damping (<3%)
55 Modes
Modes being
being monitored
monitored currently
currently
–– North–South
North–South Mode
Mode A A (0.23
(0.23 Hz)
Hz)
–– North-South
North-South Mode
Mode B B (0.4
(0.4 Hz)
Hz)
–– East-West
East-West Mode
Mode AA (0.45
(0.45 Hz)
Hz)
–– British
British Columbia
Columbia mode
mode (0.6
(0.6 Hz)
Hz)
–– Montana
Montana mode
mode (0.8
(0.8 Hz).
Hz).
Page 6
Inter-area oscillations
• Operators are provided with operational guidance on actions that can help to
increase damping of the monitored modes. These are validated through
model-based studies using small-signal stability analysis.
• Typically damping of natural modes can be increased by
– decreasing MW flows on associated transmission paths
– Reducing output of critical generators
– Changing status of lines and series caps
Page 7
Other applications and processes utilizing
synchrophasor data
• Phase Angle Monitoring for Synch Checks in long
transmission lines
• Phase Angle Monitoring for stability limits
• Forced Oscillation
• Model Validations
Page 8
Phase Angle Monitoring for Synch Checks for
closing long transmission lines
• State estimation provides pre-contingency
voltage angles
• Additionally, Real-Time Contingency Analysis
allows operators to monitor the post
contingency angle differences against synch
check relay limits to determine whether lines
with synch check relays can be reclosed
successfully
• Operators can be provided instructions on how
to reduce angle differences at critical locations
on EMS displays PMU data helps to validate the
angle differences determined by
state estimation
Phase Angle Monitoring for Stability Limits
• Typically stability limits are respected by monitoring MW flows on critical interfaces
• In certain conditions it is possible that that under different dispatch conditions
leading to MW flows lower than the MW based stability limit, the stability concerns
still exist. However angle based limits may stay constant for the different dispatch
conditions
• This warrants monitoring of stability limits based on angle differences to ensure
stability limits can be maintained under different dispatch conditions
Forced Oscillations
• Forced oscillations being monitored for four
major bands (
https://www.nerc.com/comm/PC_Reliability_Guidelines_DL/Reliability_Gu
ideline_-_Forced_Oscillations_-_2017-07-31_-_
)
FINAL.pdf
• RCs coordinating with TOPs and neighboring
RCs for determination of source
• RCs provided operational guidance on
requiring unit causing forced oscillations to
reduce output or shutdown
• Implementation of Oscillation Source Location
based on dissipating energy method expected
to better improve source location
Wide-area Oscillations due to Resonance
• Under certain conditions, forced oscillations can lead to triggering
of wide area oscillations due to resonance with a system model
• Three major conditions are necessary for the resonance effect to
be high :
– The forced oscillation frequency should be at or near a system mode
frequency
– The system mode should be poorly damped
– The source is near a strong participation location of that system
mode such as the distant ends of the system mode. The distant end
locations are the strongest participants in the system mode
• In such cases, depending on the impact of forced oscillations,
operators may need to take steps to increase damping in addition
to locating the source of the forced oscillations
Model Validation
60.04
60.02
60
Frequency (Hz)
59.98
59.96
59.94
59.92
59.9
Real-Time
Transient Stability Compare dynamic 59.88
Analysis simulations with 59.86
Synchrophasor PMU TSAT
State Estimation [Monitoring data and validate
stability concerns network and 700
and frequency dynamic models 600
response] 500
Flow (MW)
400
300
200
100
0
PMU TSAT
Questions/Comments
Dede Subakti, P. E.
Vice President, System Operations
[email protected]
916-351-2454
