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Virginia Tech

Study of Global Power System Frequency Behavior Based on Simulations and FNET Measurements

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

A global view of power system's frequency opens up a new window to the "world" of large system's dynamics. With the aid of global positioning system (GPS), measurements from different locations can be time-synchronized; therefore, a system-wide observation and analysis would be possible. As part of the U.S. nation-wide power frequency monitoring network project (FNET), the first part of the study focuses on utilizing system simulation as a tool to assess the frequency measurement accuracy needed to observe frequency oscillations from events such as remote generation drops in three U.S. power systems. Electromechanical wave propagation phenomena during system disturbances, such as generation trip, load rejection and line opening, have been observed and discussed. Further uniform system models are developed to investigate the detailed behaviors of wave propagation. Visualization tool is developed to help to view frequency behavior simulations. Frequency replay from simulation data provides some insights of how these frequency electromechanical waves propagate when major events occur. The speeds of electromechanical wave propagation in different areas of the U.S. systems, as well as the uniform models were estimated and their characteristics were discussed. Theoretical derivation between the generator's mechanical powers and bus frequencies is provided and the delayed frequency response is illustrated. Field-measured frequency data from FNET are also examined. Outlier removal and wavelet-based denoising signal processing techniques are applied to filter out spikes and noises from measured frequency data. System's frequency statistics of three major U.S. power grids are investigated. Comparison between the data from phasor measurement unit (PMU) at a high voltage substation and from FNET taken from 110 V outlets at distribution level illustrates the close tracking between the two. Several generator trip events in the Eastern Interconnection System and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council system are recorded and the frequency patterns are analyzed. Our trigger program can detect noticeable frequency drop or rise and sample results are shown in a 13 month period. In addition to transient states' observation, the quasi-steady-state, such as oscillations, can also be observed by FNET. Several potential applications of FNET in the areas of monitoring & analysis, system control, model validation, and others are discussed. Some applications of FNET are still beyond our imagination.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2005

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Tsai, Shu-Jen Steven
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Liu, Yilu
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Mishra, Amitabh
  • Lin, Tao
  • De La Ree, Jaime
  • Centeno, Virgilio A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-07152005-094536
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/28303

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Tsai, Shu-Jen Steven. Study of Global Power System Frequency Behavior Based on Simulations and FNET Measurements. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28303