Time delay definitions and characterization in the pacific DC intertie wide area damping controller

When large generation and load centers are separated by long transmission lines, the propensity for complex inter-area oscillations increases. These oscillations are deleterious to utility systems since they may cause damage to equipment or restrictions on power flows. To improve small-signal stability in the utility grid, new methods of control have been introduced that utilize local and remote feedback of phasor measurement unit signals to compute a control action. A key consideration in the implementation of these controls is thus the network and control delays associated with these signals since excessive control delay may degrade performance. This work focuses on the recently installed Pacific DC Intertie wide area damping controller prototype system located at the Celilo Converter Station. Network and control delays are defined and quantified through experiments done to commission the system, and the results are discussed in the context of the controller's expected performance.