Case studies: Synchrophasor WAMPAC maximizes stability and economy

Worldwide power systems are frequently being operated for maximum economy, with the possible sacrifice of traditional stability margins. Long lines between generators and loads, changes in the generation mix, and an increase in interconnections have complicated the use of older tools for system analysis. System disturbances and blackouts at locations throughout the world have demonstrated the need to simplify how system operators obtain the situational awareness necessary to maintain stability and optimize economy. Synchronized phasor measurements (synchrophasors) provide a new method for improved protection, monitoring, control, and visualization of wide-area system conditions. The availability of streaming data in a standard format has been used to improve supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data quality and provide automatic checks of state estimation calculations. This paper discusses some of the methods that are being used at electricity providers from locations around the world to visualize, analyze, and control power systems using synchrophasor technology. Real-world examples of how these values are collected, correlated, calculated, and acted on are presented. (6 pages)