A METHOD FOR STABILITY ASSESSMENT

In order to predict whether a particular system is stable after a disturbance it is necessary to solve
the dynamic equation describing the behavior of the angle  immediately following an imbalance
or disturbance of the system.
The system is said to be unstable if the angle tends to increase without limit.
If on the other hand the angle tends to reach a maximum value and decrease thereafter, the system
is decimal stable.
The method of determining stability is known as Equal-Area Criterion

EQUAL AREA CRITERION

Assumption:
Assume input mechanical power to the synchronous generator is constant.

Equal Area Criterion

Stating from the Swing Equation

d 2 P

dt 2 M

Derivation of Equal Area Criterion

d 2 P d
2
 2
dt M dt

 d  d   2P d
2
 2  2   [1]
 dt  dt  M dt

d  d   d  d  
2 2
But    2  2 
dt  dt   dt  dt 
From
d u
dx
 
  u n 1
du
dx

d
Let u 
dt


d
u 2  2  u 21  du  2  u  du  2   d   d  d 
dt dt dt  dt  dt  dt 

d  d   d  d  
2 2
    2  2 
dx  dt   dt  dt 

Eqn. [1] becomes

d  d  2P d
2

  
dt  dt  M dt
 dt and intergrate
 d  2P
2

 d    d
 dt  M

 d 
2
2P
 d  dt    M d
LHS:

 d 
2

 
 dt 
RHS:


2
M 
0
Pd 
 
d 2
dt
0 
M 0
Pd


2
0 
M 0
Pd


 0   Pd
0

 0   ( Pm  Pe )d
0
POWER ANGLE CHARACTERISTIC AND CRITICAL
CLEARING ANGLE

AC Power Flow Equation between two Buses

V1  V1 0 0 ;

V2  V2  ;
X s  System Impedance
AC Power Flow Equation

V1 V2
P Sin  Pmax Sin
Xs
where,
V1 V2
Pmax   SSSL
Xs

Steady State Stability Limit (SSSL)

EXAMPLE
A remote generator transmits energy to a major load/generation area via the system shown on Figure Q1.
Assume the generator’s voltage behind transient reactance to be 1.1p.u, the infinite bus voltage to be 1.0
p.u and the power transfer to be 0.3p.u during the steady-state condition of the network.

The line reactance is j0.5 p.u per line and transient reactance of the generator is j0.2 p.u. The normalized
inertia constant of the generator H = 3 kWs/kVA.

A 3 phase short-circuit fault occurs at a point which is at one-fifth of the length of Line 1 as shown on
Figure Q1. An ensuing dynamic state follows which results in the fault being cleared.

Assume that when the fault is cleared one line is lost from the service.

(i) Plot the Power Angle Characteristics that can be used with the equal area criterion to determine the
transient stability of the sub-system. [ 10 Marks]

(ii) Determine the critical clearing angle required to maintain transient stability of the sub-system.

[ 10 Marks]
 Figure Q1

SOLUTION
Transfer Reactance during Pre-fault condition

X eq  j 0.2  j 0.1  j 0.25  j 0.1  j 0.65 p.u

√….(1)

Steady State Stability Limit:

E gV 1.1x1 1.1
Pmax( pre fault)     1.6923p.u
X eq X eq 0.65 √….(1)
Power Angle Characteristics
The power angle characteristics is given by the following equation:

pre fault
Pe  Pmax( pre fault ) Sin  1.6923Sin √….(1)

This gives the variation of the transmittable power or power that can be delivered with respect to the
rotor angle  .

Transfer Reactance during fault condition

The line reactance for Line 1 is divided into 2 sections by a ratio of 1:4 at the fault-ground point. The
equivalent system reactance between the transient generator voltage and the infinite bus system can be
evaluated by making use of network reduction theorems such as Y   transformations and Thevenin’s
Theorem to get the equivalent transfer reactance during the fault condition.

Repeatedly applying Y   to the network during the fault yields a transfer reactance :

 (2,3)(0,1) 
X eq ( fault)  j 2.3  j 0.1  j    j 3,275 p.u
 0,2628 
√√….(2)

Power Angle Characteristics

Giving a power angle characteristic during the fault as:

 Pmax( fault) Sin  0.3359Sin

fault
Pe √√….(2)

Transfer Reactance during the Post-fault condition (After losing one

line):

X eq  j 0.2  j 0.1  j 0.5  j 0.1  j 0.9 p.u √….(1)

Power Angle Characteristics
1.1x1
 Pmax( post ) Sin  Sin  1.2222Sin
post
Pe √….(1)
0.9

Power Angle Curves for Equal Area Criterion are as shown below: √….(1)
(ii) Critical clearing angle
 
Initial rotor angle:  0  sin 1 
Pm   sin 1  0.3   10.2 0  0.178rad √√….(2)
P   1.6923
 max( pre fault) 

 Pm 
Post fault rotor angle:  1  sin 1    sin 1  0.3   14,2 0  0.2478rad √√….(2)
P   1.2222 
 max( post ) 
Hence :

1(max)    1    0.2478  2.894rad √√….(2)

Critical rotor angle : √√√√….(4)

Critical Clearing Angle:
 Pm ( 0   1(max) )  Pmax( fault) Cos( 0 )  Pmax( post ) Cos( 1(max) ) 
Cos( cr )   
 P  P 
 max( fault ) max( post ) 
 0.3 x(0.178  2.894)  0.3359x0.984  (1.2222x(0.9694)) 
 Cos( cr )     0.7903
 0.3359  1.2222 
  cr  Cos 1 (0.7903)  142.2 0  2.482rad

Transient stability Consideration in System Design

Transient stability is an important consideration that must be dealt with during the design of power
systems.

The following methods can be used to improve stability of a system:

 Reduction of Transmission System Reactance
This can be achieved by adding additional parallel transmission circuits, providing series
compensation on existing circuits and by selecting transformers with lower leakage reactance at
design stage.

 High-Speed Fault Clearing

As the speed at which faults are cleared, the less the kinetic energy the rotor rotating masses will
gain, hence fast-acting breakers can be used where faults must be removed quickly to maintain
stability.

 Dynamic Braking
Shunt resistors can be switched-in following a fault to provide an artificial electrical load. This
increases the electrical output of the machines and reduces the rotor acceleration.

 Regulate Shunt Compensation

By maintaining system voltages around the power system, the flow of synchronising power
between generators is improved.

 Reactor Switching
The internal voltages of generators, and therefore stability, can be increased by connecting shunt
reactors.

 Single-pole Switching and Reclosing

Most power system faults are of the single-line-to—ground type. However, most protection
schemes tend to trip all three (3) phases. If single-pole switching is used, only the faulted phase is
 removed and power can flow on the remaining two phases thereby greatly reducing the impact
of a disturbance. The single-phase is reclosed after the fault is cleared.

 Steam Turbine fast-valving

Steam valves are rapidly closed and opened to reduce the generator accelerating power in
response to a disturbance.

 Generator tripping
This approach disconnects selected generators in response to a disturbance that would have the
effect of reducing the power that would be required to be transferred over critical transmission
corridors or interfaces.

 High-speed Excitation Systems

Improving the internal voltage of a generator has the effect of improving the transient stability as
the Steady Stability Limit increases. This can be achieved by fast acting excitation systems, which
can rapidly boost field voltage in response to disturbances.

 Special Excitation System Controls