Power System Stability

Power system consists some synchronous machines operating in synchronism. For the continuity of the power system, it is necessary that they should maintain perfect synchronism under all steady state conditions. When the disturbance occurs in the system, the system develops a force due to which it becomes normal or stable.

The ability of the power system to return to its normal or stable conditions after being disturbed is called stability. Disturbances of the system may be of various types like sudden changes of load, the sudden short circuit between line and ground, line-to-line fault,  all three line faults, switching, etc.

 

The stability of the system mainly depends on the behaviour of the synchronous machines after a disturbance. The stability of the power system is mainly divided into two types depending upon the magnitude of disturbances

• Steady state stability
• Transient stability

Steady-state stability – It refers to the ability of the system to regain its synchronism (speed & frequency of all the network are same) after slow and small disturbance which occurs due to gradual power changes. Steady-state stability is subdivided into two types

Dynamic stability – It denotes the stability of a system to reach its stable condition after a very small disturbance (disturbance occurs only for 10 to 30 seconds). It is also known as small signal stability. It occurs mainly due to the fluctuation in load or generation level.

Static stability – It refers to the stability of the system that obtains without the aid (benefit) of automatic control devices such as governors and voltage regulators.

Transient Stability – It is defined as the ability of the power system to return to its normal conditions after a large disturbance. The large disturbance occurs in the system due to the sudden removal of the load, line switching operations; fault occurs in the system, sudden outage of a line, etc.

Transient stability is conducted when new transmitting and generating system are planned. The swing equation describes the behaviour of the synchronous machine during transient disturbances.

The transient and steady-state disturbances occur in the power system are shown in the graph below. These disturbances reduce the synchronism of the machine, and the system becomes unstable.

Stability studies are helpful for the determination of critical clearing time of circuit breakers, voltage levels and a transfer capability of the systems.