A Brazilian PMU-WAMS pilot project: A methodology for PMU site selection

The stability of interconnected large power systems — like the Brazilian National Grid (SIN) — is directly compromised by weakly or not damped low frequency oscillations and transitory oscillations, these latter originated from large contingencies. In order to identify and control the system oscillation modes efficiently, the dynamic behavior of various wide areas, it becomes necessary synchrophasor measurement techniques for real time observability and control, essential requirements which plays a key role in wide area monitoring and damping control systems. This paper proposes a methodology for site selection for a reduced number of phasor measurement units (PMU), which are to serve as real-time data providers for a pilot project of wide-area measurement system (WAMS) that is going to be installed in the Brazilian National Grid. The main constructive and operational characteristics of the PMU technology and WAMS platform are discussed as well as the Brazilian system and its particularities highlighting the large interconnections and major power plants.)