“Education for Salvation of Soul’’

EEU801 Power System Stability

Lecture- 01

Dr. Kawita D. Thakur

Government College of Engineering, Amravati

1
An electric power system is constituted of several power elements such as
generators, transformers, power transmission lines, distribution networks,
and loads, as well as control elements such as automatic voltage regulators
of synchronous machines, automatic load frequency control mechanism,
protective relays, and circuit breakers.

All these units combine to form a system and exhibit properties, as a

system, which are quite different from the properties of these individual
units.

Under normal conditions (termed as the steady-state), the average

electrical speeds of all the generators remain the same throughout the
system.

In the steady state condition, there is equilibrium between the input

mechanical torque and output electrical torque of each machine. This is
termed as the synchronous operation of the system.
CIGRE-IEEE Definition of Power System Stability:

Power system stability is the ability of an electric power system,

for a given initial operating condition, to regain a state of
operating equilibrium after being subjected to a physical
disturbance, with most system variables bounded so that
practically the entire system remains intact.

 Power system stability has been recognized as an important problem for

secure system operation since the 1920s.

 Many major blackouts caused by power system instability have illustrated

the importance of this phenomenon.
Power System Stability:
Power system operates in synchronous mode and subjected to a wide
range of disturbances (small and large) :

Examples are:
- Loads and generation changes
- Network changes
- Faults and outages of equipments

Hence, the stability of the power system will be affected.

Power system stability involves the study of the dynamics of the

power system under disturbances.

From the classical point of view, power system instability can be seen as
loss of synchronism (i.e., some synchronous machines going out of
step)when the system is subjected to a particular disturbance.
Need of Stability Classification:
 Stability analysis is easier.
 Also it leads to proper and effective understanding of different power
system instabilities.
 Key factors that leads to instability can be easily identified.
 Methods can be devised for improving power system stability.

Classification is based on the following considerations:

 Physical nature of the resulting instability
 Size of the disturbance considered
 Processes, and the time span involved
 As power systems have evolved through continuing growth in
interconnections, use of new technologies and controls, and the increased
operation in highly stressed conditions, different forms of system
instability have emerged.

 For example, voltage stability, frequency stability and inter area

oscillations have become greater concerns than in the past.

 This has created a need to review the definition and classification of power
system stability. A clear understanding of different types of instability and
how they are interrelated is essential for the satisfactory design and
operation of power systems.

 The stability problem is broadly divided into two classes-rotor angle

stability and voltage stability.

 The rotor angle stability problem is further subdivided into two parts:
steady-state stability and transient stability.
 In our subject study we will focus on: Rotor angle stability
1- Small disturbance stability/Steady State Stability
2- Large disturbance stability/Transient Stability

Rotor Angle Stability :

 Rotor angle stability refers to the ability of synchronous machines of an

interconnected power system to remain in synchronism after being subjected
to a disturbance.
• Rotor angle instability occurs due to angular swings of some generators
leading to their loss of synchronism with other generators.
• Depends on the ability to maintain/restore equilibrium between
electromagnetic torque and mechanical torque of each synchronous machine.
• At equilibrium, Input mechanical torque equals output electromagnetic torque
of each generator.
• In case of any disturbance the above equality doesn’t hold leading to
acceleration/ deceleration of rotors of machines.
• Causes loss of synchronism with other generators.
Basic phenomena associated with angle stability are:

1. Imbalance between accelerating and decelerating generator torque

2. Temporary(negative)surplus energy is stored in rotating masses
3. Capture range of synchronizing torque is limited by pull-out torque or power
4. If the limit exceed stability/synchronized operating may be lost

Rotor Angle Stability Classification :

Small Disturbance Rotor Angle Stability:

• It is the ability of the power system to maintain synchronism under small

disturbances. Disturbances are considered to be sufficiently small such that
the linearization of system equations is permissible for purposes of analysis.

• The time frame of interest in small-disturbance stability studies is of the order

of 10 to 20 seconds following a disturbance.
Steady State stability:
Ability to regain normal and stable operation after being subjected to gradual or slow
changes in the load.

 Concerned with upper loading of machine before losing synchronism.

Assumptions:
• Load is assume to be applied at a rate which is very slow.
• System analysis is by set of linear equations.
• Action of Voltage regulators and turbine governors are not included.

• Steady state stability of power systems results from gradual system changes.

Example: Gradual load increase as in the addition of MW at load terminals or in

gradual load decrease, as in steam changes at the prime mover.
Importance of steady state stability:

1. A system can be operated above its transient stability limit but not above
its steady-state limit
2. The transient-stability limit can be raised by increasing the speed of
clearing faults but cannot exceed the steady-state stability limit of the
final circuit (that is, with the faulted circuit disconnected unless high-
speed reclosing is employed).
Steady State Stability Limit is the maximum power that can be transmitted
in the steady state without loss of synchronism.

Steady State Stability Limit (Precise):

The steady-state stability limit of a particular circuit of a power system may

be defined as the maximum power at the receiving end of the circuit that can
be transmitted without loss of synchronism if the load is increased in very
small steps and if the field currents are changed after each increment of load
so as to restore the normal operating conditions (usually constant terminal
voltages)
Large Disturbance Rotor Angle Stability:
• It is the ability of the power system to maintain synchronism under a severe
disturbance, such as a short circuit on a transmission line. Disturbances are
large so that the linearization of system equations is not permissible for
purposes of analysis.

• The time frame of interest in small-disturbance stability studies is of the

order of 3 to 5 seconds following a disturbance.
Transient Stability:
Ability to regain normal and stable operation after being subjected to sudden & large
changes in the load.

Examples: Switching operations, fault occurrences, auto-reclosure schemes,

energization process of a T.L. and de-energization of a T.L., loss of generator
excitation etc.

Assumptions:
• Linearization of system equation is not permitted.
• Study on the basis of swing.
• Action of Voltage regulators and turbine governor are not included.

It involves the study of the power system following a major disturbance. Following a
large disturbance the synchronous alternator the machine power (load) angle changes
due to sudden acceleration of the rotor shaft.

The objective of the transient stability study is to ascertain whether the load angle
returns to a steady value following the clearance of the disturbance.
Dynamic Stability: The ability of a power system to maintain stability under
continuous small disturbances is investigated under the name of Dynamic
Stability (also sometimes known as small-signal stability).

These small disturbances occur due random fluctuations in loads and generation levels.
In an interconnected power system, these random variations can lead catastrophic failure
as this may force the rotor angle to increase steadily.

 Same as steady state stability

 Included action of turbine governors and voltage regulators.
 Study time is 4-10 sec
Voltage Stability:

 Voltage stability refers to the ability of a power system to maintain steady

voltages at all buses in the system after being subjected to a disturbance
from a given initial operating condition.
 A system is voltage instable if for at least one bus in the system, the voltage
magnitude decreases as reactive power injection is increased.
 Voltage instability results in progressive fall or rise of voltages of some
buses.
 Large scale effect of voltage instability leads to Voltage collapse. It is a
process by which the sequence of events accompanying voltage instability
leads to a blackout or abnormally low voltages in a significant part of the
power system.
 The driving force for voltage instability is usually the loads.
 Voltage stability problems is also experienced at terminals of HVDC links
connected to weak ac systems.
Frequency Stability:

 Frequency stability refers to the ability of a power system to maintain

steady frequency following a severe system upset resulting in a significant
imbalance between generation and load.
 Frequency instability leads to tripping of generating units and/or loads.
 Frequency stability may be a short-term phenomenon or a long-term
phenomenon.
• Stability involves study of dynamics of the system about an equilibrium-initial
operating condition.

• Stability (can be defined only in terms of)

-Initial operating condition
-Nature and magnitude of disturbance
Thanks!