Automated Evaluation of Power Plant Frequency and Voltage Control using Synchrophasors

Abstract

Reliable power system operation depends on maintaining acceptable frequency and voltage. When excursions occur, power plants must respond appropriately to restore these parameters within a suitable margin of their nominal values. Model-based post event analysis is useful for ensuring that power plant controls are functioning properly, but these analyses are labor intensive. To address this challenge, this paper proposes automated measurement-based approaches for detecting excursions and evaluating the frequency and voltage control performance of power plants as they respond. The performance of a power plant is quantified using a novel voltage response measure and a modified frequency response measure applicable to an individual power plant. These metrics gauge how much each power plant adjusts active or reactive power injection to restore frequency or voltage. The detection and analysis methods are validated using publicly available field measurements and the results from a field demonstration at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The field demonstration verified that the metrics effectively summarize a power plant's performance, allowing further review of plants with potential deficiencies.