The Mechanism of Ultra-Low Frequency Oscillations With the Same Mode Shapes

The ultra-low frequency oscillation (ULFO) problem reappears in China recently. Different from the classical low frequency oscillation (LFO), the generators in ULFO have the same mode shapes, namely oscillating in the same pace. To reveal the reason why ULFO generators do not oscillate inversely as classical LFO does, this paper investigates the mechanism of ULFO based on improved Philips-Heffron model of two-machine system. Through this model, the phase angle relationship between different generators is obtained. Based on the bode diagram, it is found that the phase angle difference of the two machines is around zero in ultra-low frequency band however the generator parameters change. On the contrary, the situation is different in classical low frequency band, which reveals the mechanism that generators in ULFO always oscillate in the same pace. Finally, the analysis above is validated through a 2-area 4-machine system and a 6-machine system established in PSASP software.