Wide area monitoring in the Italian power system: architecture, functions and experiences

Abstract

Abstract The paper reports the main features of the Wide Area Measurement System (WAMS) in operation at the Italian power system. First, the architecture of the WAMS platform is described; then, the visualisation functions are presented. The latter provide the data measured by the phasor measurement units, together with the results of real time monitoring functions for enhanced operational awareness. Functions have been developed for oscillatory stability analysis, network separation detection, voltage stability margin evaluation, load shedding intervention evaluation, line thermal estimation. Application examples are shown, drawn from real cases. The WAMS platform, running in real time in the control room, has proved useful in normal and especially in critical operating conditions, when the limitations of traditional SCADA systems and analysis tools are most apparent. The development of real‐time functions is still ongoing, also in view of implementing Wide Area Control/Protection System solutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.