WACS-Wide-Area Stability and Voltage Control System: R&D and Online Demonstration

TLDR

Feedforward wide‑area discontinuous power‑system stability controls are commonly used to enhance grid reliability. The study demonstrates a new response‑based (feedback) Wide‑Area Stability and Voltage Control System (WACS) and outlines plans for its future development. WACS employs powerful discontinuous actions, phasor measurements from numerous substations, fiber‑optic communications, real‑time deterministic computers, and transfer‑trip signals to circuit breakers at other substations and power plants. WACS is a flexible platform that can prevent blackouts and facilitate electrical commerce.

Abstract

As background, we describe frequently used feedforward wide-area discontinuous power system stability controls. Then we describe online demonstration of a new response-based (feedback) Wide-Area stability and voltage Control System (WACS). The control system uses powerful discontinuous actions for power system stabilization. The control system comprises phasor measurements at many substations, fiber-optic communications, real-time deterministic computers, and transfer trip output signals to circuit breakers at many other substations and power plants. Finally, we describe future development of WACS. WACS is developed as a flexible platform to prevent blackouts and facilitate electrical commerce.