Damping Low Frequency Oscillations with Hydro Governors

This paper presents a novel approach into damping inter area oscillations during poor grid conditions and low oscillation frequency ranges at the generator side. The method is based upon the application of a single input Power System Stabilizer to the actuators of hydro governor systems (PSS-G). One constraint thereby is the decoupling of the damping application from the standard operational functionalities such as primary control. The investigation is based upon a two-step approach: A principal feasibility investigation utilizing a Single Machine Infinite Bus-SMIB Model and a second step using a four generator two area model focusing on the interaction of the governor control path and the voltage control path. Local signals and signals derived from Wide-Area-Measurement System (WAMS) like speed deviation or accelerating power respectively voltage angle deviation have variously been used as input signals and compared by their impact on system damping. This article is part of a special session at PowerTech 2013 which is being proposed by the EU FP7 Real-Smart Consortium, a Marie Curie Industry-Academic Pathways and Partnerships project(1). Most of the work presented in this paper has been developed during a secondment at Statnett in Oslo, Norway.