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Experience of PSS Tuning in Indian Power System

Conference Paper · December 2020

DOI: 10.1109/NPSC49263.2020.9331918

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 Experience of PSS Tuning in
Indian Power System
Presenter : Chandan Kumar (Author)

Co-Author : Saibal Ghosh, Saurav Sahay, Alok Pratap Singh, Akash Modi, Surajit Banerjee

Power System Operation Corporation Limited(POSOCO)

India

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
Outline
Paper summarises

• Regulatory Overview and Required Improvements

• Non-uniformity in Vendors practice

• Experiences and Challenges observed in field exercise for 129 Units

• Modified PSS tuning procedure and implementation

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 Power System Stabilizer (PSS)
Basic Principle
Some Key points :
• Part of Synchronous machine excitation system
• Additional Input to AVR to improve Damping Torque
• Control excitation through voltage regulator for damping
power oscillation
• Input signal : Speed, Frequency and Power
• Efficient and economical Mean to damp Oscillations (LFO)
and Small signal stability improvement
Paper summarises
• Need proper tuning
• Regulatory Overview and Required
Observed Issues in PSS tuning : Improvements
• Non-uniformity in Vendors practice
• Lack of Simulation study
• Challenges observed in field exercise
• Widely varying practices among utilities & vendors • Best Practices for PSS tuning
• Lack of procedure and evaluation guidelines • Modified PSS tuning procedure and
• Field implementation with standard tests for evaluation implementation

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 Regulatory Overview
PSS Mandatory for Excitation System
CEA Technical Standard for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines
(Published in 2010):
• For Coal or lignite based Thermal Generating Stations (10.2. g.i: ), Gas turbine
based Thermal generating stations (18), Internal Combustion(IC) engine based
Thermal generating station (27) : Suitable Excitation System, as well as
Automatic voltage regulator (AVR), shall be provided with the generator as per
CEA (Technical standards for connectivity to the Grid) Regulation, 2007. Power
System Stabiliser (PSS) shall be provided in AVR for generator of 100 MW and
above rating.
• For Hydro power Plan (37.3.e): All the performance requirements of AVR, PSS
shall be in accordance shall be in accordance with CEA (Technical standards for
connectivity to the Grid) Regulation, 2007 and CEA (Grid standard)regulation
as and when they come into force.
CEA (Technical standards for connectivity to the Grid) Regulation, 2007:
• For New generating Units (part II. 1. C): The AVR of generator of 100 MW and
above shall include Power system stabiliser (PSS)
• For Old Units: (part II. 2. 2): For thermal generating units of having rated
capacity of 200 MW and above and Hydro Units having rated capacity of 100
MW and above, following facility should be provided at the time of renovation
and modernization : Every generating unit of capacity having rated capacity
higher than 100 MW shall have PSS.
Review of Damping Criteria : POSOCO, “Report on Low Frequency Oscillation in Indian Power System”, New Delhi, Tech.Rep. March 2016.
21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
PSS Tuning Mandatory
• IEGC 5.2.k: All generating units shall normally have their automatic voltage
regulators (AVRs) in operation. In particular, if a generating unit of over fifty (50)
MW size is required to be operated without its AVR in service, the RLDC shall be
immediately intimated about the reason and duration, and its permission
obtained. Power System Stabilizers (PSS) in AVRs of generating units (wherever
provided), shall be got properly tuned by the respective generating unit owner as
per a plan prepared for the purpose by the CTU/RPC from time to time. CTU /RPC
will be allowed to carry out checking of PSS and further tuning it, wherever
considered necessary.
• CEA (Technical standards for connectivity to the Grid) Regulation, 2007 6.g: The
requester and user shall cooperate with RPC and appropriate Load despatch centre
in respect of matter listed below, but not limited to: Cooperate with RPC for tuning
of PSS provided in the excitation system of generating Unit.
Report of the Task Force on Power System Analysis under Contingencies: Power
System Stabilizers (PSS) as part of the generators installed in the network are also
critical for damping the local area oscillations and imparting stability to the networks.
Optimal tuning of PSS also enhance effectiveness of other HVDC and FACTs controllers
in supporting overall/ inter-area stability. Necessary exercise to retune PSS should be
undertaken at interval of 3-4 years or even earlier depending on network additions in
vicinity of specific generators.
Missing Features : Damping Criteria , Procedure and
Periodicity of PSS tuning and Evaluation
 Vendors & Utility Existing Practices
Vendor V1 V2 V3 V4 V5

PSS Tuning Study based on Dynamic Model

√ × √ × √
Model Validation during Actual PSS tuning √ × × × × Challenges observed
Gain and Phase margin Calculation using System • Non-uniform practice.
Study √ × √ × √
• Missing Validated model based study
PSS Tuning at Site: Step Test and Parameter determination
√ √ √ √ √
exercise.
PSS tuning at Site: Disturbance Test × × × √ √ • Focus only on step test response.
PSS tuning at Site: Impulse Test √ × × × × • Lack of disturbance/impulse test.
PSS tuning at Site: Governor Test × × × × ×
PSS tuning at Site : OEL and UEL Test × × × × ×

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 PSS Tuning : Experience & Challenge
Summary of PSS tuning at 129 Units in Eastern and Model validation
Western Region in Indian Power system • Ensures the study results and actual site tests match
• Validation of the local mode of frequency with step test.
• Thermal Power Plant Units: 97 • Three vendors perform this activity
• Hydro Power Plant Units: 21 50 MW-800 MW
Reference voltage step change
• Gas Based Power Plant Units : 11 • Voltage step of 5 % is good for analyzing the PSS response.
• Evaluation based on lower steps (1%-3%) is difficult
Measurement Data
• Lack of high precision data from field testing. Generation level
• Response/tuning validation difficult.
• 80-100 % of the rated capacity & All test at same loading
• PSS cutoff criteria
• Gets bypassed below certain generation level.
• Affects overall response evaluation.

PSS Gain
• Conservative Setting – Lack of study and field test.

Governor Status
• Free Governor Mode need to be kept off for ideal condition for
testing.

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 PSS Tuning Experiences…
Step response test
• Unit response for change in Excitation system Vref.
• Provide PSS response for system voltage change.
• Impact of other units in plant affect the testing
(irrespective of PSS on/off)
• Difficult to assess if plants have units with multiple rating
• Better evaluation if unit under test is only kept in service
• Response during the lowest possible fault level
• Can be done Hydro and Gas
• Non-economical in thermal plant.
• Does not ensure plant level response.

Disturbance test
• Provide overall plant response
• Most effective yet least performed
• Plants (Thermal plant) avoid it on apprehension of
disturbance.
• If transient study is performed then impact of
disturbance test known in advance.

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 PSS Tuning Methodology : Simulation Study
Study Requirement Task
• Time domain and Frequency domain study • Find local mode of oscillation for the plant and its
• Data Requirement : damping.
• Generator detailed model • Impact of external network impedance variation
• Oscillation Frequency Range (System Operator/ • Phase and Gain margin for the given range of
Planner) frequency.
Objective Study
• Study should demonstrate improved damping for : • Eigen Value Analysis : Phase lead lag compensation
• Voltage step change of 1% -5%. to provide positive damping.
• Defined frequency range. • Root Locus Analysis : Gain constant determination.
• Within 2 cycles. • Time domain study : Perform step and disturbance
• No appreciable instability at 3 times proposed test at various power output.
PSS gain.
• Variable system operating conditions
• Network topologies changes. Outcome of Simulation Study:
• Short circuit on transmission lines from plant. • Local mode of oscillation frequency
• No adverse impact/negative interaction on the • PSS phase and gain margin
torsional mode. • Number of cycle required for damping (Damping
ratio)

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 PSS Tuning Methodology : Field Testing
Requirement : AVR tuning IEEE Std 421.2-2014 Frequency Response Test
1. Injecting low frequency band-limited random
Gain margin Test noise / sinusoidal signal in VTref
1. Keep gain as calculated from study and increase it 2. Provide PSS performance for a range of frequency
till oscillation starts. and ensures model validation
2. Reduce gain to 1/3 of this gain value.
Disturbance Test
• Most effective : Opening of line/reactor
Step Response Test • All Unit PSS ONor OFF (Plant level response)
• Provide time-domain performance
• Application of voltage step changes to VTref Impulse Test (Alternative to Disturbance Test)
• 1-3 % change –PSS ON/OFF • Low magnitude Impulse type signal superimposed
• Validates local mode and simulation study over the VTref for step-change in impulse input.

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 PSS Tuning Methodology : Field Testing
OEL/UEL Test:
• Ensure under excitation limiter (UEL) & over
excitation limiter (OEL) do not interact with PSS .
• Unit is under and overexcited till UEL/OEL
activation perform step/impulse response test
Governor Test:
• Test PSS performance during frequency events.
• Apply +0.5 Hz frequency injection to the governor
and keep unit it frequency sensitive mode.
Precautions
• Alert during frequency injection close to the
resonant frequencies of the machine or
neighboring machines.
• Alert during frequency injection higher than 3 Hz as
can eb near to lowest shaft torsional mode. Consult
OEM
• Stop if error between Simulation and field test is
high .
• Stop if growing/sustained oscillation observed

Utilization of Synchrophasor
• Proved effective for PSS
performance evaluation.
• Helps in model validation
PSS out at 4000 MW plant PSS In at 4000 MW plant

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 Suggested Inclusion in Standard/Regulation
• Damping criteria Introduction in power system planning and operation criteria.
• Mandatory PSS tuning at periodic interval and criteria
• PSS tuning procedure and guideline.
• Generator model validation

Summary
Overall Paper provide a glimpse of :
• Challenges faced during PSS tuning study and field testing.
• Limited resources on real world experience sharing on PSS tuning.
• Challenge in deriving strength from Regulation/Standard on PSS tuning evaluation.
• Varying practices by utilities and vendors on PSS tuning.
• Field Experience & challenges faced during PSS tuning of more than 129 Units.
• Methodology for PSS tuning based on best practices. New Methodology and Guideline :
Approved in the Eastern Region
• Suggested Regulation/Standard Inclusion on PSS tuning.
Operation Committee (OCC) Forum
in Sept 2020

21st National Power Systems Conference (NPSC 2020), December 17-19, 2020, IIT Gandhinagar
 References
1. Central Electricity Authority (Technical standards for connectivity to the Grid) Regulation, 2007.
2. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC), 2010

Thank you
3. POSOCO, “Report on Low Frequency Oscillation in Indian Power System”, New Delhi, Tech.Rep.
March 2016.
4. P. K. Agarwal, Chandan Kumar. “Oscillation Detection and Mitigation Using Synchrophasor
Technology in the Indian Power Grid” in Power System Grid Operation Using Synchrophasor
Technology, 1st ed, vol. 1, Nuthalapati, S, Ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019, pp.195-

5.
216.
C. Kumar et al., "Detection of LFO and Evaluation of Damping Improvement Using Synchrophasor
Measurement," 2018 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), Kota
for your attention
Kinabalu, 2018, pp. 701-706, doi: 10.1109/APPEEC.2018.8566336.
6. C. Kumar et al., "Intra-Area Mode: Measurement-Based and Model-Based Assessment in Indian
Power System," 2019 IEEE Milan PowerTech, Milan, Italy, 2019, pp. 1-6, doi: Contact : chandan@posoco.in
10.1109/PTC.2019.8810729.
7. National Grid Electricity Transmission, Grid Code, Issue 5, Revision 21, 2017.
8. WECC Power System Stabilizer Tuning Guidelines
9. ERPC, 164th OCC Minutes, Jan-2020, Available [online]: http://erpc.gov.in/wp-
content/uploads/2020/01/164-OCC-MINUTES.pdf
10. NERC, VAR-501-WECC-3 – Power System Stabilizer Standard
11. IEEE Std 421.2-2014: IEEE Guide for Identification, Testing, and Evaluation of the Dynamic
Performance of Excitation Control Systems
12. IEEE Tutorial Course Power System Stabilization via Excitation Control,2009
13. ERCOT Nodal Operating Guides
14. E. V. Larsen and D. A. Swann, "Applying Power System Stabilizers Part II: Performance Objectives
and Tuning Concepts," in IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-100, no. 6,
pp. 3025-3033, June 1981.
15. E. V. Larsen and D. A. Swann, "Applying Power System Stabilizers Part III: Practical Considerations,"
in IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-100, no. 6, pp. 3034-3046, June
1981.
16. POSOCO, “Synchrophasors Initiative in India”, New Delhi, Tech.Rep. June 2012.
17. P. Kundur, G. R. Berube, L. M. Hajagos and R. Beaulieu, "Practical utility experience with and
effective use of power system stabilizers," 2003 IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting ,
Toronto, Ont., 2003, pp. 1777-1785 Vol. 3

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