Advanced Applications R&D

This set of activities is focused on the development and demonstration of advanced grid applications and tools to enhance grid reliability and economics. The research involves data collection/processing, analysis, visualization, monitoring and alarming, and decision support for grid operators. Many of the applications rely on high time-resolution and time-synchronized grid monitoring technologies.

Projects

Adaptive Islanding Demonstration in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council PI: Vittal, Vijay This project developed an integrated algorithm to identify a cutset for a large power system for the application of a slow coherency based controlled islanding scheme. Controlled islanding is employed as a corrective measure of last resort to prevent...
Characteristic Ellipsoid Method for Wide-Area Dynamic Monitoring PI: Makarov, Yuri The objective of this project was to continue development of a new and efficient on-line technology and demonstration tool for monitoring and express-analysis of dynamic processes in power systems using phasor measurements to increase situation...
Criticality and Risk Aspects of Large Cascading Blackouts PI: Ian Dobson This project focused on transmission system reliability, with the aim of understanding large, cascading failure blackouts and providing tools for analyzing and monitoring their risk. In particular, the project worked to identify the threshold that...
Data Conditioning and Validation Using Phasor-Only State Estimator PI: Thorp, Jim This project is developing a new approach for conditioning and validating synchrophasor data for real-time applications with the aim of providing experience-based recommendations for making the synchrophasor infrastructure more robust. Demonstration of...
Data Integrity and Situational Awareness Tools (DISAT) PI: Tuffner, Frank PI: Amidan, Brett This project is applying advanced statistical data processing techniques to examine phasor measurements provided by the Bonneville Power Administration. It uses these techniques to identify trends in (or patterns involving) multiple phase angles or...
Dynamic System Identification (DSI) Toolbox Capabilities Update PI: Tuffner, Frank The objective of this work was to conduct a survey of existing tools that provide similar functionality to the DSI Toolbox. Pending a favorable review of that survey, then the PNNL team will pursue two primary activities for updating...
GPS Issue Management PI: Buckner, Mark The purpose of this work was to develop a plan to explore the implications of issues on electricity systems infrastructure caused by dependence on Earth-based and Space-based Timekeeping and Navigation (ESTN) systems.
Information Management for Grid Control PI: Smathers, Douglas C. This research focused on control issues associated with the bulk power system—initially control-area management and transmission reliability. This project aimed to develop an information flow model for interchange schedules and real-time grid operating...
Integrated Security Analysis PI: Sauer, Pete This project was designed to investigate alternative frameworks for the integration of these tools into a comprehensive package that can be more responsive to changing conditions and simultaneous transactions. These frameworks aimed build on the...
Measurement Error Impacts on Synchrophasor-Based Applications PI: Liu, Yilu This activity encompasses assessing the impact of measurement errors on synchrophasor measurement unit (PMU) applications. IEEE Standard C37.118 defines the accuracy requirements for PMUs. Frequency and angle errors from the standard is used in the...
Modal Analysis for Grid Operations (MANGO) PI: Dagle, Jeff PI: Huang, Zhenyu (Henry) The objective is the development of a grid operations procedure using modal analysis for improving grid stability based on phasor measurements. To meet this need, modal analysis will be further explored in this project to develop real-time applications...
Mode Meter Development PI: Tuffner, Frank PI: Dagle, Jeff This project is enhancing algorithms for use in a mode meter that will detect, analyze, and potentially help localize forced oscillations in a power system. It also supports BPA in conducting probing tests for modal analysis...
Needs Assessment, Requirements, and Business Model for Next-Gen Instrumentation PI: Buckner, Mark This project is developing methods and data needed to assess the measurement capabilities that will be required by the next generation of PMUs in order for them to support future power system applications.
New Security Tools for Real-Time Operations PI: McCalley, Jim The objective of this work was to create new security assessment tools for real-time operations. Two areas of work were pursued including (1) risk-based security assessment; (2) high-speed extended term time domain simulation. The work resulted in new...
Phasor Measurement Unit Testing and Documentation PI: Martin, Ken The goal of the proposed research work is to develop a universally accepted test plan that would support the DOE and NIST efforts for phasor measurement and testing.
Real Time Dynamics Monitoring System (RTDMS) Development and Installation PI: Dyer, Jim This project was designed to develop and test advanced prototype applications on the Real-Time Dynamic Monitoring System (RTDMS) platform to provide dispatchers and reliability coordinators with a unified wide-area grid monitoring visualization...
Real-Time Wide Area Control PI: Bose, Anjan This project was designed to work with industry leaders to frame potential demonstrations of emerging real-time control concepts on bulk power systems. These concepts would then be presented to stakeholders for potential funding in FY10 and beyond. ...
Scalable Data Compression and Management for Spectral Analysis of Power Grid PMU Data PI: Zhou, Ning The objective of this project was to improve the capability of BPA to manage the enormous amount of data used and generated in various analysis processes including oscillation detection. Working with domain experts in BPA, this project worked to...
Spectral Coherence Analysis Tool PI: Tuffner, Frank The objective of this work was to extend the existing spectral coherence algorithm to improve the detection of persistent oscillations and provide more tractable information to the end user, in the form of daily summaries or outputs. Determining...
Statistical Analysis of Abnormal Behavior PI: Ferryman, Tom This project’s goal was to establish proof-of-concept for a tool that will enable identification of envisioned and unenvisioned atypical events on the grid. It combines sophisticated multivariate statistical algorithms, user-intuitive software, and...
Synchronized Sampling Uses for Real-Time Monitoring and Control PI: Kezunovic, Mladen The scope of this project was to investigate the potential benefits of integrating information obtained by phasor measurement units (PMU) and other intelligent electronic devices (IED) into the control center real-time monitoring and control solution...
Synchrophasor Data Validation and Conditioning PI: Martin, Ken This project developed a prototype application for validating and conditioning real-time synchrophasor data. This application works with the data and measurement characteristics themselves and does not require the power system model for operation. It...
Synchrophasor Metrology Gaps PI: Buckner, Mark This project addresses gaps in synchrophasor metrology, including identification of emerging needs and development of solutions in the form of techniques, procedures, and tools. This project involves strong working relationships with NIST and NERC.
Voltage Stability Applications Using Synchrophasor Data PI: Chow, Joe The main objective of this project is to develop a voltage stability margin computation method using PMU data. The approach is to use the PMU data to estimate the Thevenin equivalent voltage and reactance, allowing a smaller size system to be analyzed...