Concepts for Power System Small Signal Stability Analysis and Feedback Control Design Considering Synchrophasor Measurements

In the Nordic power network, the existence of poorly damped low-frequency inter-area oscillations (LFIOs) has long affected stability constraints, and thereby, limited power transfer capacity. Adequate damping of inter-area modes is, thus, necessary to secure system operation and ensure system reliability while increasing power transfers. Power system stabilizers (PSS) is a prevalent means to enhance the damping of such modes. With the advent of phasor measurement units (PMUs), it is expected that wide-area damping control (WADC), that is, PSS control using wide-area measurements obtained from PMUs, would effectively improve damping performance in the Nordic grid, as well as other synchronous interconnected systems. Numerous research has investigated one ``branch'' of the problem, that is, PSS design using various control schemes. Before addressing the issue of controller design, it is important to focus on developing proper understanding of the ``root'' of the problem: system-wide oscillations, their nature, behavior and consequences. This understanding must provide new insight on the use of PMUs for feedback control of LFIOs. The aim of this thesis is, therefore, to lay important concepts necessary for the study of power system small signal stability analysis that considers the availability of synchrophasors as a solid foundation for further development and implementation of ideas and related applications. Particularly in this study, the focus is on the application addressed damping controller design and implementation. After a literature review on the important elements for wide-area damping control (WADC), the thesis continues with classical small signal stability analysis of an equivalent Nordic model; namely, the KTH-NORDIC32 which is used as a test system throughout the thesis. The system's inter-area oscillations are identified and a sensitivity analysis of the network variables directly measured by synchrophasors is evaluated. The concept of network modesha