Improved Power System Performance

through Wide Area Monitoring,

Protection and Control

Computed by PSGuarderation
PSGuard Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control

A big step forward to improve PSGuard is designed to detect incipient ab-

power system observability and normal system conditions and to take counter-
performance actions to preserve system integrity and ascer-
Continued load growth without a corresponding tain acceptable power system performance.
increase in transmission resources has resulted
in reduced operational margins for many power
systems worldwide and has led to operation
of power systems closer to their stability limits
and to power exchange in new patterns. These
issues, as well as the on-going worldwide trend
towards deregulation of the entire industry
on the one hand and the increased need for
accurate and better network monitoring on the
other hand, force power utilities exposed to this
pressure to demand new solutions for wide area
monitoring, protection and control.

In this regard, the PSGuard Wide Area Moni-

toring, Protection and Control system provides
state-of-the-art solutions for counteracting sys-
tem instabilities and preventing power outages.
Natural loading computed by PSGuard

Point of maximal loadability

The typical application areas of PSGuard systems

Transmission networks Regional, national and cross-national transmission networks

Power supply rings Power supply rings for heavy load centers
Interconnections Transmission corridors, grid interconnections
Industrial areas Transmission network for industrial areas
Power generation Power systems including power generation

Examples:

SECURITY Installation of a PSGuard system into a transmission network

for continuous stability monitoring and protection

OPTIMIZATION Installation of PSGuard into a transmission corridor connecting

two areas for power flow optimization in cooperation with FACTS, online calculation
of available transmission capacity and automatic control

MONITORING Installation of PSGuard into a transmission grid for monitoring

of network parameters U, I, frequency Average line temperature

Voltage phase angle and difference between locations Active and reactive power
and direction

2 ABB
Highlights

Lowered risks of power system instabilities

Minimized outages to secure income

Increased transmission capacity to generate more revenue

Optimized power flow to improve congestion management

Improved power system reliability

Assured power system investment planning

Emergency alarm

Early warning
Driving forces for the implementation
of Wide Area Monitoring solutions
To avoid large area disturbances
Wide area disturbances usually have excessive
consequences as observed from voltage collap-ses
and cascading effects, which have happened all
over the world. Numerous analyses of the causes
of these problems have revealed, that they are
mainly caused by multi-contingencies, which can
appear solely or combined everywhere in power
systems and at any time.
While it is not possible to predict or prevent
all contingencies that may lead to power system
collapse, a wide area monitoring, protection
and control system supports the operator with
important online information, provides a set of
coordinated measurements. The result is themi-
tigation or prevention of the spreading of large
area disturbances. This increases the reliability of
power systems and minimizes outages.
To improve exploitation of existing
power transfer capacity
Wide area monitoring systems maximize the uti-
lization of the existing power system by online
assessment of the safety margin towards system
instabilities. Today, power transfer limits are
4 ABB
based on simulations that are conducted during
the system operation planning phase, and are
based on worst-case scenarios (n-k). Online
assessment of the system stability makes it
possible to increase exploitation of the transfer
limits. Both thermal and stabi-
lity limits are calculated. By transferring ma-
ximum possible power through the existing
transmission corridors, future extension of line
installations may be considerably deferred.
To ascertain power system integrity
In contrast to conventional protection devices,
which provide local protection of individual
equipment (transformer, generator, line, etc.),
the wide area protection system provides
comprehensive protection covering the whole
power system. When compared to SCADA/
EMS systems, that are responsible for network
control and management, the PSGuard system
is focused on maintaining power system inte-
grity. The idea is that a wide area monitoring,
protection and control system shall complement
rather than substitute any of the existing control
and protection systems.
 PSGuard, the solution to prevent PSGuard allows an incomplex integration
wide area disturbances in existing utility communication environments
PSGuard is the ABB solution for wide area to link the PMUs data stream from different
monitoring, protection and control incorpo- substations to the PSGuard system in the
rating the approved new technologies applied control center.
to identify instabilities in power systems and
Data exchange can be established between
to evaluate the most effective measures against
PSGuard and other control and protection
large area disturbances. The PSGuard system
systems to allow for optimal data sharing and
utilizes phasors, which are measured by GPS
control actions.
time synchronized phasor measurement units
(PMU) resulting in an accuracy of < 1 s.
PSGuard is a system for wide area monitoring,

protection and control

PMU, Phasor measurement units

for GPS time synchronized phasor measurement

and local protection

Communication system linking PMUs

to the PSGuard system

Re
I U
3 1 I1
U
3 Im

U
I2
2

Re
I3 U
1 I1

U
3 Im


U
I
2


2
Re
I
3 U

1 I
1
U
3 Im
U
I
2


2

Effective measures

to maintain power system

integrity.

ABB 5
The PSGuard system

PSGuard is designed to detect incipient abnormal system
conditions, to recommend or and to take predetermined
counteractions to preserve system integrity and ascertain
power system performance.
Main benefits:
The PSGuard system is designed to cope
with the needs for network-related wide area
monitoring and protection applications. The
PSGuard is of distributed architecture and
can easily be extended if new applications or
new stations have to be implemented.

Improved power system operation

PSGuard workstations are equipped with
The operators are additionally provided with online
a state-of-the-art HMI allowing optimal
information on the power system status at the right time.
monitoring, operation and system engineering.
Better use of existing equipment
The online information on the current power system Communication System
status (e.g. remaining transmission capacity) allows A suitable communication system is required
transmission lines to be operated closer to the safety limits. that is able to cope with the information
Therefore, more power can be transmitted over existing exchange load between PSGuard and the
transmission lines and the construction of new lines can PMUs. It must provide the necessary
be deferred. reliability and transmission capacity for the on-
line data transmission in distributed
Increased power transmission capacity
control and protection systems.
Instability limits that are calculated online permit an in-
crease in transmission capacity for power transmission lines
The following transmission capacity has to
while maintaining the same level of security. The additional
be provided as a minimum:
transmission capacity increases profitability.
Dedicated channels > 64 kB/s per PMU
Optimized power flow TCP/IP networks
The continuous monitoring of the power system stability
margins provides valuable information that can be used for the If a communication system already exists, it
optimization of the power flow in transmission corridors in coo- is recommended to perform a communication
peration with other control equipment (FACTS, SVC, etc.). system assessment at the beginning of the
PSGuard project to evaluate the actual status
Lowered risks of power system instablities
and its adequacy for use in such projects.
Early recognition of incipient power system instabilities
allows counter measures to be initiated early, so that the
spreading of large area disturbances can be prevented. This
helps to significantly reduce the costs caused by outages.

Reduced impact of disturbances

PSGuard can evaluate suitable countermeasures due to
improved knowledge of the power system conditions and
corrective actions. Therefore, excessive or unnessesary load
shedding can be avoided.

Improved power system planning

Enhanced knowledge about the dynamic power system
behaviour enables countermeasures to be prepared more
precisely, and provides improved data for the planning
of system extensions.

6 ABB
Phasor measurement: to 20 ms and a high time and angle accuracy
High-precision data acquisition (< 1 s, < 0.1) over wide areas.
Each monitoring and control system computes
The time synchronization provided by GPS
an image of the process based on the actual
signals assures that the measurements across
process data and on other information available
the entire power system are taken precisely at
in the system. This process image reflects the
the same instant. In addition, phasor measure-
dynamic behaviour of the process and is used to
ments are obtained directly from CTs and
initiate necessary actions to optimize the power
VTs to avoid any other errors that may be
system operation. Accurate and informative data
caused by transducers. These two aspects ensure
can be provided by the system, which enables
that the state calculation of the power system is
the real status of the process and the precision
an accurate image of the actual
of its responses to incipient problems to be
power network conditions.
assessed.
Instability can occur anywhere in the network,
In contrast to conventional control systems,
depending on the actual load distribution, sub-
where RTUs are used for the acquisition of
station equipment outages, and available power
RMS values of currents and voltages, the
generation. In order to cope with the various
PSGuard system takes GPS synchronized
situations, it is recommended to install PMUs at
current and voltage phasor measurement from
selected locations the power network where sta-
critical locations of the power system. It is
bility problems are expected to occur. Detailed
the first commercially operative system which
studies, which are offered by ABB, supports to
continuously records the dynamics of power
identify the most suitable locations.
networks with a time resolution down

Phasor measurement units

(PMU) providing precise
information about the
dynymic behaviour of the
power system.

ABB 7
Positioning and architecture

Positioning in control
and protection schemes
Nowadays a control and protection scheme

in power systems mainly comprises two types
of systems:

Network control systems

SCADA/EMS systems for network operation
and energy management. They act based on
a static or quasi-dynamic view of the power

system created from RTU data and may

cooperate with other control systems.



Object protection

Devices for protection of individual objects

(transformer, line, generator, etc.) in power
systems. They act dynamically but mainly
without any coordination with other control
systems.

PSGuard acts based on a dynamic view of Scalable to meet

power systems created from synchronized
phasor measurement in cooperation with other
control and protection systems. It therefore
bridges the security gap between existing
control and protection systems, and it enables
the power system operation and protection
to be optimized.
The PSGuard system is designed to provide
protection for the entire power system. It
is focused on power system security. Network
control and object protection remains with
SCADA/EMS respectively with SA systems.
individual requirements
The architecture of the PSGuard system pro-
vides a scalable solution, which is suitable for
customer requirements ranking from small
installations for phasor measurement and
visualization up to comprehensive power
system protection for determination of critical
network stability and initiation of automatic
counteractions.
The scalability of the PSGuard system enables
utilities to start with a small installation and
expand to a full scope wide area monitoring,
protection and control system meeting actual
and future requirements of power utilities.

8 ABB
 PSGuard is bridging the gap between Open for extension and upgrading
control and protection systems. Modular system architecture allows to extend
and upgrade PSGuard system easily:



Extension of the power system
New stations can be equipped with PMUs and

connected to the PSGuard system. The most


suitable location of PMUs in the power system






will be analyzed by means of network modelling

and study.


System adjustment

to new network topology
If substations have to be removed or modified,

new lines have to be built, etc., then it is also

necessary to investigate and to re-evaluate the
impact of the modified new network topology.
These new network data should be entered into

PSGuard, and the system has to be adapted to

new network topology.

Adding further applications

to PSGuard
The PSGuard system provides a comprehensive
platform for implementing several types
of monitoring and protection applications.
New applications can be added in order to
meet the future requirements of a certain
power utility.

The scalability of the PSGuard system meets the individual customer requirements.

ABB 9
System structure

The structure of PSGuard system is designed

to cope with the requirements for performing
wide area monitoring, protection and control
functions.

Commercially available components are

used throughout the system to keep the costs
low for acquisition, maintenance and stocks
of the spare part.

The PSGuard system enables full scope

wide area monitoring, protection and control

solutions to be created comprising PSGuard

itself, a communication system and PMUs

installed in substations as shown

in the graph below.

10 ABB


PSGuard system structure
overview

ABB 11



PSGuard system portfolio

Application modules

The PSGuard system Connectivity Phase angle monitoring

provides a portfolio The connectivity package is based on OPC Server and Phase angle monitoring based on snapshots

of software modules, can be equipped with data viewer for displaying phasor of phasors.
data.
which can be The following functions are provided:
bundled to packages The following functions are provided: Phase angle difference between selected
to form solutions Phasor data acquisition from PMUs in IEEE locations
suitable to customers 1344-1995 data format Display of the phase angle curve between two
requirements Checking the validity of acquired data selected locations

(see system structure Monitoring of the communication links to PMUs Real and reactive power at selected locations
overview on page 1011). Display of the maximum acceptable phase
angle between two selected locations
Basic monitoring
Provides state-of-the-art WAM platform enabling Online warning and emergency alerting

integration of PSGuard software packages. Configuration of the above mentioned functions

Self-monitoring
The following functions are provided:

Aspect Integrator Platform (AIP)

GUI enabling process-oriented navigation
Historical data and trending facility
Integrated engineering tool
Line thermal monitoring
Online average temperature calculation based on
phasors measured on both ends of transmission lines
with assessment of line loadability taking thermal
limits into consideration.

Data storage and export The following functions are provided:

This is an advanced historical data package, which
is provided as option if the historical data in the
Basic System package would not meet customer
requirements.
The following functions are provided:
Data processing and storage
Line average temperature calculation as well as
display of temperature changes
Assessment of thermal limits based on measured
and design parameter of the line
Assessment of transmission line loadability
Present line resistance and line loss
Self-monitoring

Navigation through historical data

Trending facility Voltage stability monitoring

Voltage stability monitoring for transmission corridors
as well as for meshed networks.
Advanced monitoring
This package supervises network topology The following functions are provided:

and calculates values of substations, which are not Contingency detection

equipped with PMUs for providing full observation of
Prediction of power system status after each
monitored area.
contingency, enabling to recognize collapses at

The following functions are provided: early stage and initiating countermeasures

Topology detection Continuous calculation of power margin toward

voltage instability limit
Islanding recognition
Online calculation of available transmission
Dynamic network parameter calculation
capacity
Modal analyses

The voltage stability assessment for meshed

networks requires basic monitoring package.

12 ABB
Power oscillation monitoring
Power oscillation monitoring in power systems.
The following functions are provided:
Identification and size/variation of the most
important oscillation frequency
Amplitude of the most important kind of
oscillating
Absorption of the most important kind of
oscillating
Estimated current average of the analyzed signal
Estimated oscillating amplitude of the analyzed
signal
Trend indication to oscillating and the
appropriate absorption
Online warning and emergency alerting, release
and basic value for load shedding intended
remedial action schemes with a data repetition
rate of 1 second
Frequency stability monitoring
Frequency stability monitoring based on snapshots
of phasors.
The following functions are provided:
Contingency detection
Identification and size/variation of the most
important frequency
Amplitude of the most important kind of
frequency change
Absorption of the most important kind of
frequency change
Gradient of the frequency change
Estimated current average of the analyzed signal
Estimated oscillating amplitude of the analyzed
signal
Trend indication to oscillating and the
appropriate absorption
Online warning and emergency alerting, release
and basic value for load shedding of intended
remedial action schemes with an datarepeat
guess/advice from 1 second
Prediction of power system status after each
contingency, enabling collapses to recognize at
early stage and counter measures to be initiated.
ABB
State calculator
Online state calculator based on snapshots
of phasors.
The following functions are provided:
Network topology
Voltage magnitudes and angles
Branch current magnitudes and angles
Selected loads and generators current magnitudes
and angles
Statuses (ON or OFF) of the branches in the
supervised areas
Online state calculator provides improved
power stability.
Control action suggestion
Operator guidance by suggesting control actions to
bring power system into a safe state.
Advanced control
Evaluation and performing most suitable actions
based on information from stability assessment
applications.
Remedial action schemes optimizes performance of
load and generator shedding in response to system
disturbances and/or topology changes.
The following functions are provided:
Automatic actions for system protection
Automatic actions for transmission corridor
optimization
Dynamic set point determination
for FACTS/Wide area control
Online warning and emergency alarming, trigger
and base value for load and generation shedding
for the designated remedial action schemes
Controlled generator tripping or equivalent
reduction of energy input to the system
Tripping of interruptible load, DC line ramping,
insertion of braking resistors, insertion of
series capacitors and controlled opening of
interconnection and/or other lines including
system islanding
13
 PSGuard system portfolio

Application packages

Wide Area Measurement PSG 830

The PSG 830 provides wide area measurement

and phasor data viewing. The PSG 830 allows



you to integrate existing or newly installed


PMUs to a wide area measurement system

providing phasor data at a central location.


It is the basic platform for wide area solution


enabling power utilities to familiarize them-






selves with WAMS technology with minimal





investment.














The PSG 830 provides additionally process-






oriented navigation using single-line diagram,

GUI, etc. It is based on an WAM platform


The scalability of the system enables to start with a small installation allowing implementation of software packages
that grows up to the system configuration meeting the full customer to form wide area measurement, monitoring,
requirements and needs. protection and control solutions. The PSG 830



acquires phasor data from PMUs and provides





dynamic information of power systems, which



helps operators to initiate correct actions in










due time.






The package includes





Connectivity




Basic monitoring



Data storage and export

14 ABB
Wide Area Monitoring PSG 850
Various monitoring applications are provided in
PSG850 for monitoring different instabilities in
power systems. Depending on the type of in-
stability occuring in power systems, the related
applications can be selected and implemented.
Based on phasor data acquired from PMUs the
PSG850 creates a picture showing the stability
status of the nodes in the monitored area and
suggests actions to prevent large area distur-
bances. Countermeasures can then be initiated
by the power system operator. Automatic ac-
tions are not included in PSG 850.
The package includes
Connectivity
Basic monitoring
Data storage and export
Optional the following modules are available
Advanced monitoring
Event driven data archiving
Phase angle monitoring
Line thermal monitoring
Voltage stability monitoring
Power oscillation monitoring
Frequency stability monitoring
State calculator
ABB
Wide Area Protection
and Control PSG 870
The PSG870 is designed to be used for
transmission corridors for optimizing power
flow in cooperation with local control devices
(FACTS, SVC, etc.). Based on phasor
measurement from both sides of transmission
corridors the PSG 870 monitors actual power
flow, available transmission capacity, average
temperature, thermal limits, etc., and initiates
commands to local control equipment for
optimizing power flow and minimizing conges-
tion. PSG 870 detects incipient instabilities and
abnormal conditions, evaluates most suitable
countermeasures and initiates automatic actions
to protect power systems from large area distur-
bances. Automatic commands can be initiated
to existing control systems (SCADA/EMS,
SA, etc.) if those systems are able to perform
them in due time. Otherwise the commands
are sent directly to PMUs or other control
equipment in the stations.
The package includes
Connectivity
Basic monitoring
Data storage and export
Advanced monitoring
Optional the following modules are available
Event driven data archiving
Phase angle monitoring
Line thermal monitoring
Voltage stability monitoring
Power oscillation monitoring
Frequency stability monitoring
State calculator
Control action recommendation
Advanced control
15
PSGuard software module functionalities
Stability monitoring
At present, power systems are usually operated
based on static or quasi-dynamic information
derived from RMS measurements. Phasor
measurements at nodes help system operators
to have a dynamic view of the power system
and initiate the necessary measures in proper
time. This can be supported significantly by
stability assessment algorithms, which are
designed to take advantage of the phasor measu-
rement information. This increases the efficiency
of power system operation and maintains
security at the desired level.
Monitoring of transmission corridors
congestion management
The interconnections (transmission corridors)
between the power systems are mostly used
for energy trading activities and physical energy
Voltage stability monitoring with early warning
and emergency alarm
16
delivery, contributing a significant proportion
of the cost of energy in liberalized markets. The
transmission capacity of such corridors is often
constrained by the stability concerns having
their origin in the uncertainty about the sys-
tem state. The traditional way to reinforce the
transmission paths is building new lines. This
solution offers very high availability, but, on
the other hand, the associated cost is very high.
The alternative solution can be significantly
improved monitoring by using a Wide Area
Monitoring approach resulting in the reduction
of uncertainties and thus the operational risk.
In contrast to the traditional investment into
the assets (i.e. transmission lines), the trans-
mission increase is significant under certain
conditions. This can be e.g. an increase due to
lower ambient temperatures. However, the so-
lution can be far more cost-effective due to the
much lower investment needed for acquisition
of a WAM System. Therefore, the WAM system
can be seen as a tool playing an important role
in congestion management.
ABB
Control action recommendation Two transmission lines are lost, as shown on the

Operator guidance single-line diagram, and displayed in the fault-related

event list
PSGuard has a user-friendly HMI, where Two generators are producing 100% reactive power

power system information is clearly displayed. to support the system

Three phasor measurement units (DACU 1, 2 and 4)
Furthermore an operator guidance facility is pro-
show significant voltage decline
vided with following actions:
The indicators for network stability (NSI) and

Continuous display of relevant information reactive power (RPI) are in yellow and indicate very
Configurable warning and alarm little safety margin left to power system collapse
Notifications of emergency or warning to the The PSGuard suggests that the under load tap

operator as well as in an event list changer control (ULTC) should be blocked

The suggestion of the most suitable operation to

overcome existing emergencies At a glance, the operator is in the position to

see all information he needs to take counter
This supports the operators work and prevents measures in order to avoid power system col-
operational mistakes, especially in an emergency. lapse and he is guided in taking the right actions
in manual operation mode.

Voltage stability monitoring

on power transmission lines

ABB 17
 PSGuard software module functionalities

Phase angle monitoring Line thermal monitoring

The application for monitoring the phase angles
is a function that monitors the demands on the
network that are caused by heavily loaded lines.
It provides the operators with online informa-
tion on the differences between the voltage
phase-anglesa decisive factor in the successful
reclosing of lines.
The main function of phase angle monitoring is
to provide the operator with sufficient informa-
tion so that he can assess the current difference
in the phase angles between two locations.
When PSGuard detects an abnormal state, the
operator is informed with an early warning, or in
critical cases with an alarm.
Loading of the lines is in many cases constrai-
ned more by thermal limits than by voltage
instability concerns. The thermal limit of
a line is usually set according to conservative
and stable criteria, i.e. high ambient tempera-
ture and no wind. This results in an assump-
tion of very limited cooling possibilities and
thus low loading. However, often the ambient
conditions are much better in terms of possible
cooling. This would allow higher loading of
a line with a minimal risk. This is possible if
an online working tool for line temperature
assessment is available. One of the algorithms
serves precisely this purpose.

The current version has monitoring functions,

the results of which should be a reliable aid for
decisions taken by the operators. The measures
that the operator can initiate to improve the sta-
bility of the network range from rescheduling the
energy generation or the compensation of the
reactive power, blocking the tap-changers in the
load area, or in extreme cases load shedding.

Time-synchronized

phasor snapshots at
various locations.

18 ABB
Voltage stability monitoring
of the transmission corridors
The voltage stability assessment functionality
provides a basis for effective monitoring of trans-
mission corridors. It is based on and extends the
basic functionality of Wide Area Measurement
Systems with functions related to the monitoring
of voltage stability for a transmission line and/or
corridor. Its main function is to provide the ope-
rator of the power system with sufficient infor-
mation for the evaluation of the present power
margin with respect to voltage stability. That is
the amount of additional active power that can
be transported on a transmission corridor wit-
hout jeopardizing the voltage stability. Voltage in
a power system may become instable because of
a shortage of reactive power. However, this ap-
plication provides online monitoring functions,
the results of which are available to the operator
as the main support for decisions. Actions that
the operator may take to improve voltage sta-
bility may range from generation rescheduling
or reactive load compensation, blocking of tap
changers in the load area up to incremental or
complete load shedding in extreme cases.
Power oscillation monitoring
Power oscillation monitoring is the algorithm
used for the detection of power swings in a po-
wer system. The algorithm is fed with the selec-
ted voltage and current phasors. The algorithm
processes the input phasors and detects the
various swing (power oscillation) modes. The
algorithm quickly identifies the frequency and
the damping of the least damped swing modes,
that can e.g. lead to angular instability causing
major power system disturbances (blackout). The
algorithm employs adaptive Kalman filtering
techniques.
ABB
Frequency stability monitoring
Frequency stability monitoring is based on data
from Basic Monitoring. The difference between
the consumed and generated power is detec-
ted early. The frequency stability monitoring
algorithm estimates the impact of such a power
unbalance on the frequency by modeling the
response of the load and the inertia of the genera-
tors. If the estimated frequency is not acceptable,
the proposed actions to reach the desired fre-
quency are computed and proposed.
Control and stabilizing measures
Control and stabilizing measures are operational
actions issued by PSGuard to protect power
systems from instabilities and collapses. Each
measure could consist of one or a combination
of several control actions, which will be advised
by PSGuard and initiated by the operator or by
PSGuard directly.
The feasibility criteria for specific control actions
would have to be identified in the course of
analytical system studies, which take into account
envisaged network conditions, operation policies
and switching procedures, actual load levels and
generation capacity.
In case of power system conditions detected that
require corrective actions, PSGuard identifies
suitable locations and the extent of counter
measures. The selection of control actions is
based on power system conditions and identified
contingencies. Coordination of wide area pro-
tection with legacy control and protection is vital
to the reliability of the transmission network.
19
PSGuard software module functions
Measures against voltage instability
Voltage instability occurs when heavy system
loading causes large reactive power demands
that result in an excessive voltage decline at load
centres.
Increase reactive power supply
Increase Static Var Compensator (SVC) output
Increase reactive power output from synchronous
machines
Switch on capacitors and switch off inductors
Provide adaptive protection devices to prevent
tripping on overload or overcurrent
Under Load Tap Changers (ULTCs),
in combination with Automatic Voltage
Regulators (AVR), progressively adapt tap
changer position to compensate for primary
side voltage decline. To prevent this from
happening during contingencies, the following
approaches are possible, but this must be applied
to ULTCs at all levels, from transmission down
to distribution transformers.
Modify the AVR voltage setting
Disable tap changer position to reduce load
voltage and power
20
Load shedding
The last measure against voltage collapse is load
shedding. This action directly tackles the pro-
blem of excessive load demand at the specific
location in the power system. This measure,
however, should be carefully pre-planned by
selecting various load-shedding steps with
priorities assigned that take the sensitivity of
the consumers concerned and the impact of
outages into account.
Many utilities rely on the operators experience
to shed load when system voltages are too low.
However, in case of rapid voltage decline
the o ator may not be in a position to react
fast enough to avoid voltage collapse and un-
controlled loss of load. Some utilities apply un-
der-voltage load-shedding relays as an attempt
to automatically respond to voltage decline.
However, taking the RMS voltage value as the
only criteria is not a very reliable indicator for
an incipient voltage collapse. Apart from this,
the setting of these relays is delicate to assure
reliable operation.
The PSGuard approach provides intelligent
algorithms for reliable detection of incipient
instabilities. PSGuard assesses the optimal
load that is needed to be shed at the most
suitable locations. The operator can rely on
PSGuard recommendations for load-shedding,
and he can be sure that the power supply is
endangered and shedding of customer load is
justifiable.
ABB


Measures against



frequency/angular instability


Frequency/angular instability occurs after the


tripping of generators or heavily loaded trans-




mission lines. In the event of imbalance of

generation and load, the optimal actions have to


be determined to restore equilibrium taking the


actual network topology into account.

To prevent the spreading of frequency instabi-

lity, which leads to large area disturbances, it is

necessary to have information available on the
power system conditions at several locations in

terms of voltage and current phasors. In addi-

tion to this, a defence plan has to be established

to determine which circuit breakers are to be
blocked or to be tripped for under-frequency
initiated load-shedding or, as last defence
measure, islanding of subsystems. It might also
be necessary to adapt the setting of the protec-
tion relays concerned.

Voltage instability prediction

and load shedding

ABB 21
Implementation

A PSGuard implementation project will be A scalable implementation is recommended in

planned and executed in cooperation with the
utility so as to assure compliance with financial,
functional and operational objectives of the
project. The main aim of the project would
be to implement the most suitable system solu-
tion meeting actual and future requirements.
view of the size of the project. Each implemen-
tation step will be tested thoroughly, reviewed,
verified, and fine-tuned by ABB in close coo-
peration with the utility before commencing the
next steps. This procedure will stepwise improve
the utilization of the power system up to peak
performance.

Implementation steps:

Initial

Basic network assessment

Definition of system configuration

Installation of basic platform PSG 830

Verification of initial installation

Detailed network assessment

Main implementation

Implementation of Wide Area Monitoring application modules (PSG 850)

System verification

Implementation of wide area protection and control application modules (PSG870)

22 ABB
ABB as system and service supplier
ABB provides entire solutions including all de-
liveries required to satisfy utilitys needs in wide
area monitoring, protection and control from
one supplier. This avoids interface problems and
facilitates a smooth execution of the project.
Main deliverables:
Analysis phase
Post-mortem problem analysis
Network assessments
Protection and control system study
Communication system study
System concept elaboration
Conclusion
Wide Area Monitoring System helps to signifi-
cantly improve grid utilization during phases
of peak transmission demand while enabling the
detection of critical factors influencing network
stability. Online monitoring applications will
significantly reduce investment costs for utilities
while safeguarding high levels of dynamic
grid loading and availability. In this context,
Wide Area Monitoring extends the capability
and security of existing local monitoring,
protection and control equipment to further
levels of asset utilization.

Implementation phase
Control and protection systems
Communication systems
Bay level equipment

After-sales services
Operation and maintenance
Spare part services
Planning support
Upgrades and migrations
System extensions
Maintenance control
24 x 24 x 365 service
Remote system upgrade

ABB 23
 1KHA - 000 741 - SEN, vers. 5 - 1000 - 12.04 - Printed in Switzerland
Copyright 2004 ABB. All rights reserved

ABB Switzerland Ltd

Utility Automation Systems
Brown Boveri Strasse 6
CH-5400 Baden/Switzerland
Phone +41- 58 - 585 77 44
Fax +41- 58 - 585 55 77
e.Mail wide.area@ch.abb.com

www.abb.com/poweroutage