INTRODUCTION TO POWER SYSTEM

STABILITY

Copyright P. Kundur
This material should not be used without the author's consent
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Introduction to Power System Stability

Outline

1. Basic Concepts, Definitions and Classification of

Power System Stability

2. Conceptual Relationship between Power System

Stability, Security and Reliability

3. Challenges to Stable and Secure Operation of Power

Systems in the New Industry Environment

4. Comprehensive Study Procedures and Tools for

Stability Analysis

Appendix
Concepts of Active Power and Reactive Power

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Power System Stability: Basic Concepts
and Definition

Power System Stability denotes 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
all system variables bounded so that the system
integrity is preserved

Integrity of the system is preserved when

practically the entire power system remains
intact with no tripping of generators or loads,
except for those disconnected by isolation of
the faulted elements or intentionally tripped to
preserve the continuity of operation of the rest
of the system

Stability is a condition of equilibrium between

opposing forces:
instability results when a disturbance leads to
a sustained imbalance between the opposing
forces
instability is a run-away or run-down situation

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 Basic Concepts (contd)

The power system is a highly nonlinear system

which operates in a constantly changing
environment:
loads, generator outputs, topology and key
operating parameters change continually

When subjected to a disturbance, the system

stability depends on:
the nature of the disturbance, as well as
the initial operating condition

The disturbances may be small or large:

small disturbances in the form of load changes
occur continually
large disturbances of a severe nature, such as
a short-circuit on a transmission line or loss of
a large generator

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 Basic Concepts (contd)

Following a transient disturbance, if the power

system is stable it will reach a new equilibrium state
with practically the entire system intact:
faulted element and any connected load
disconnected
actions of automatic controls and possibly
operator action will eventually restore system
to normal state

On the other hand, if the system is unstable, it will

result in a run-away or run-down situation; for
example,
a progressive increase in angular separation
of generator rotors, or
a progressive decrease in bus voltages

An unstable system condition could lead to

cascading outages, and a shut-down of a major
portion of the power system

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 Need for Classification of Stability

Power system dynamic performance is influenced

by a wide array of devices with different response
rates and characteristics
Instability may be manifested in many different ways
depending on system configuration and operating
conditions
mode of instability depends on which set of
balancing forces experience a sustained
imbalance

Due to the high dimensionality and complexity of

the system, it is essential to make simplifying
assumptions and to analyze specific problems using
the right degree of detail

Not very effective to study power system stability as

a single problem

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Classification of Power System Stability

Classification of stability into various categories

greatly facilitates:
analysis of stability problems
identification of essential factors which
contribute to instability
devising methods of improving stable
operation

Classification is based on the following

considerations:
physical nature of the resulting instability
size of the disturbance considered
devices, processes, and the time span
involved

We should always keep in mind the overall stability

solutions to problems of one category should
not be at the expense of another

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 Classification of Power System Stability

Power System Stability

ability to remain in operating equilibrium

equilibrium between opposing forces
Consideration
for
Classification

Angle Frequency Voltage

Stability Stability Stability
Physical Nature/
Main System
Parameter
ability to maintain frequency ability to maintain steady
ability to maintain synchronism voltages
torque balance of synchronous within nominal range
generation/load balance reactive power balance
machines equilibrium of voltage control

Small Transient Large Small

Signal Stability Disturbance Disturbance Size of
Stability Disturbance
Voltage Voltage
Stability Stability

Short Short Long Short Long

Term Term Term Term Term Time Span

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 Rotor Angle Stability

Ability of interconnected synchronous machines to

remain in synchronism under normal conditions and
after being subjected to a disturbance

Depends on the ability to maintain/restore

equilibrium between electromagnetic torque and
mechanical torque of each synchronous machine in
the system

If the generators become unstable when perturbed,

it is as a result of
a run-away situation due to torque imbalance

A fundamental factor is the manner in which power

outputs of synchronous machines vary as their
rotor angles swing

Instability that may result occurs in the form of

increasing angular swings of some generators
leading to loss of synchronism with other
generators

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 Rotor Angle Stability (contd)

Under steady-state conditions, there is equilibrium

between electromagnetic and mechanical torques

If the system is perturbed, this equilibrium is upset,

causing acceleration or deceleration of the rotor
synchronism is maintained through
development of restoring forces

Change in electrical torque can be resolved into two

components:

Te TS TD
TS is the synchronizing torque coefficient
TD is the damping torque coefficient

Lack of synchronizing torque results in aperiodic

instability

Lack of damping torque results in oscillatory

instability

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 Transient Stability

Term used traditionally to denote large-disturbance

angle stability

Ability of a power system to maintain synchronism

when subjected to a severe transient disturbance:
resulting system response involves large
excursions of generator rotor angles and is
influenced by the nonlinear power-angle
relationship
stability depends on the initial operating
condition, severity of the disturbance, and
strength of post-fault transmission network
A wide variety of disturbances can occur on the
system:
varying degree of severity and probability of
occurrence
the system is, however, designed and operated
so as to be stable for a selected set of
contingencies
usually, transmission faults: L-G, L-L-G,
three phase

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 Small-Signal (Angle) Stability

Small-Signal (or Small Disturbance) Stability is the

ability of a power system to maintain synchronism
under small disturbances:

such disturbances occur continually on the

system due to small variations in loads and
generation
disturbance considered sufficiently small if
linearization of system equations is
permissible for analysis
instability that may result can be of two forms:
aperiodic increase in rotor angle due to
lack of sufficient synchronizing torque
rotor oscillations of increasing amplitude
due to lack of sufficient damping torque

Corresponds to Liapunovs first method of stability

analysis

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 Voltage Stability

Ability of 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 experiences voltage instability when a

disturbance, increase in load demand, or change in
system condition causes:
a progressive and uncontrollable fall or rise in
voltage of some buses

Main factor causing voltage instability is the

inability of power system to maintain a proper
balance of reactive power and voltage control
actions

The driving force for voltage instability is usually

the loads. Following a condition of reduced
transmission system voltages,
power consumed by the loads tend to be
restored by the action if distribution voltage
regulators, tap changing transformers, and
thermostats

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 Voltage Stability (contd)

The possible outcome of voltage instability:

loss of load in the area where voltages reach
unacceptably low levels, or
loss of integrity of the power system

Progressive but rapid drop in bus voltage can also

be associated with rotor angles going out of step:
voltages at points close to the electrical center
reach very low values
a much faster phenomenon
not a voltage instability phenomenon

In contrast, sustained fall of voltage related to

voltage instability occurs where rotor angle stability
is not an issue or the cause:
usually a slower phenomenon

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 Frequency Stability

Ability to maintain steady frequency within a

nominal range following a disturbance resulting in a
significant imbalance between system generation
and load:
instability that may result occurs in the form of
sustained frequency swings leading to tripping
of generating units and/or loads
determined by the overall response of the
system as evidenced by its mean frequency
rather than relative motions of rotors of
generators

In a small island system, frequency stability could

be of concern for any disturbance causing a
significant loss of load and/or generation

In a large interconnected system, frequency stability

would be of concern only following a severe system
upset resulting in the system splitting into one or
more islands

Generally, frequency stability problems are

associated with inadequacies in equipment
responses, poor coordination of control and
protection systems

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 Relationship Between the Concepts of
Reliability, Security and Stability
of a Power System

Stability: refers to the continuance of intact operation

following a disturbance
depends on the operating condition and the
nature of the physical disturbance
Security: the degree of risk in the ability to survive
imminent disturbances (contingencies) without
interruption of customer service.
depends on the system operating condition as
well as the contingent probability of
disturbances.

Reliability: probability of satisfactory operation over

the long run
denotes the ability to supply adequate electric
service on a nearly continuous basis, with few
interruptions over an extended time period

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Essential Differences Among the Three
Aspects of Power System Performance

Reliability is the overall objective in power system

design and operation

To be reliable the power system must be

secure most of the time.

To be secure the system must be stable but must

also be secure against other contingencies that
would not be classified as stability problems, e.g.
damage to equipment such as an explosive failure
of a cable, fall of transmission towers due to ice
loading or sabotage.

As well, a system may be stable following a

contingency, yet insecure due to post-fault system
conditions resulting in equipment overloads or
voltage violations

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 Essential Differences (cont'd)

System security may be further distinguished from

stability in terms of the resulting consequences.
For example, two systems may both be stable
with equal stability margins, but one may be
relatively more secure because the
consequences of instability are less severe

Security and stability are time-varying attributes

which can be judged by studying the performance of
the power system under a particular set of
conditions.

Reliability, on the other hand, is a function of the

time-average performance of the power system; it
can only be judged by consideration of the system's
behaviour over an appreciable period of time.

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Design and Operating Criteria for Power
System Security

For reliable service, a power system must remain

intact and be capable of withstanding a wide variety of
disturbances
Impractical to achieve stable operation for all possible
disturbances or contingencies
The general practice is to design and operate the
power system so that the more probable
contingencies can be sustained without loss of
system integrity
"Normal Design Contingencies"
loss of any single element, either spontaneously
or proceeded by a fault
This is referred to as the "N-1 criterion" because it
examines the behaviour of an N-component grid
following the loss of any one major components
Events that exceed the severity of normal design
contingencies can in fact occur:
"Extreme Contingencies"
measures should be taken to minimize their
occurrence and impact

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 Power System Stability: Historical
Perspective

Recognized as an important problem for secure

system operation since the 1920s

Major concern since the infamous November 9, 1965

blackout of Northeast U.S.A. and Ontario, Canada

criteria and analytical tools used worldwide

until now largely based on the developments
that followed this blackout

Presents many new challenges for today's power

systems

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Traditional Approach to Power System
Stability

Focus on "transient (rotor angle) stability"

System designed and operated to withstand
loss of any single element preceded by single-,
double-, or three-phase fault
referred to as "N-1" criterion
Analysis by time-domain simulations of selected
operating conditions
scenarios based on judgment/experience
Operating limits based on off-line studies
system operated conservatively within pre-
established limits

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 Challenges to Secure Operation of
Today's Power Systems

Power systems are more complex

national/continental/regional grids
many processes whose operations need to be
coordinated; thousands of devices requiring a
harmonious interplay
complex modes of instability
"Deregulated" market environment
many entities with diverse business interests
system expansion and operation driven by
economic drivers
lack of coordinated planning!
power systems pushed "harder"; more
frequent changes in power flow patterns

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Examples of Major System Disturbances

We had several wake up calls in recent years:

July 1996 WSCC System Disturbance

August 1996 WSCC System Disturbance

March 1999 Brazil blackout

July 1999 Taiwan blackout

August 2003 NE U.S.A. and Ontario blackout

September 2003 Italy blackout

September 2003 South Sweden and Eastern

Denmark blackout

Other blackouts in 2003/04: England, S.W. Australia,

Croatia, Greece, Brazil

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 Comprehensive Study Procedures
and Tools

All categories of system stability should be

considered

Stability depends on the harmonious interplay of all

elements of the power system:
knowledge of the characteristics of individual
elements is essential for the understanding
and study of power system stability
proper selection and coordination of controls
and protective equipment are of paramount
importance

Analytical tools and system models should be

validated against measured response

Analytical tools should:

not only determine if system stable or unstable
but also provide insight into factors
influencing stability

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Concepts of Active Power
and Reactive Power

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 Power in an A.C. Circuit

Let us first look at simple dc circuits:

Energy is stored in inductance L and capacitance C

With A.C., energy is stored and discharged twice every

cycle

Instantaneous power, p = ei

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Concepts of Active and Reactive Powers

Consider the single phase circuit shown in Fig. A.1 with

e = Em Sin t
i = Im Sin (t - ) i
e

Instantaneous power:
Fig. A.1

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Figure A.2 shows plots of e, i, p, pp and pq.

Active Power (pp) represents the component of p utilized for

permanent irreversible consumption. It has an average value of
P.

Reactive Power (pq) is utilized in establishing either a magnetic

or electrostatic field; it is stored in inductance or capacitance
and then returned to the source. It has a zero average value.
result of the associated component of current being in
quadrature with the voltage

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1 ACTIVE POWER pp = P (1 - cos 2 a t)
2 REACTIVE POWER pq = -Q sin a t

Fig. A.2 Plots of e, i, p, pp and pq

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 3-Phase Power

Under balanced conditions, with

ea = Em sin a t
ia = Im sin (a t - >)
We have

p = e a ia + e b ib + e c ic
= 3 EI cos >
= 3 x average active power per phase
Total instantaneous power is constant
We are tempted to assume that reactive power is not
important in a 3-phase network:
not appropriate to do so
power in each phase is of significance
We commonly refer to 3-phase reactive power as being
equal to 3 times single phase Q
instantaneous values of Q in all three phases add
up to zero; similar to sum of the 3-phase currents
being equal to zero

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 Reactive Power - Sign Conventions

By convention, the Q associated with:

inductive load is positive
capacitive load is negative

An inductive load absorbs Q

A capacitive load supplies Q

A synchronous machine:
when overexcited, supplies reactive power
when underexcited, absorbs reactive

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 Complex Power

Complex power, S, is defined as:

The reason for using conjugate of I in the complex

multiplication is to arrive at the agreed upon convention
for reactive power
Q is positive with I lagging E

S E I P2 Q 2
The magnitude of the complex power, S, is normally used
to specify the rating of equipment

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Special Comments on Reactive Power

Although the Reactive Power associated with an element

has a zero average value, it represents real power required
to store and discharge magnetic energy in an inductance or
electrostatic energy in a capacitance, twice every cycle.

In a network the interchange of energy takes place between

the source, inductive elements and capacitive elements.
The net energy associated with reactive power is the sum
of various inductive and capacitive stored energies.

The oscillatory transfer of reactive power between points in

a power system results in voltage drops and losses in
generation and transmission equipment.

As efficiency and voltage regulation are very important, the

transfer of reactive power over the system is of prime
importance.

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 General Observations on Active and
Reactive Power Flow

In a practical transmission system, normally:

the active power flow is determined primarily by
angular differences between bus voltages; and
the reactive power flow by magnitude differences of
bus voltages
Active Power is supplied only by generators:
the desired flow of active power from a generator is
achieved by control of prime mover mechanical
torque.
Increasing the mechanical torque advances the
generator rotor and hence, the "internal voltage"
with respect to other system voltages.
Sources of Reactive Power:
synchronous machines (over excited)
static capacitors
capacitance of transmission lines
Consumers of Reactive Power:
synchronous machines (under excited)
induction motors
inductive static loads
inductance of transmission lines, transformers
AC/DC and DC/AC converters

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 At any junction:

;P=0
;Q=0

They can be added arithmetically

For a system:
a balance sheet of active and reactive power can be
drawn;
the total injected P and Q are equal to the total
extracted P and Q, plus any P and Q losses.

Under steady-state conditions;

P and Q flow over a network are fairly independent
of each other and are influenced by different control
actions.

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