Application of improved on-line monitoring method using PMU data in recent European blackout

Modern interconnected power grid requires comprehensive and efficient on-line monitoring system to ensure the reliability and stability of the whole power system. This paper firstly introduces the structure and deficiency of traditional monitoring system. Then, relying on high precision operating parameters collected by Phase Measurement Unit (PMU), an improved on-line monitoring method is proposed, which overcomes the obstacle of existing Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) in global analysis of low-frequency oscillation when processing multiple PMU data. This novel method improves the traditional info-exchange and accident-reaction structure between regional and central monitoring station, which assists in the synchronization of oscillation information and coordinated recognition of an accident. Besides, the real-time global identification of inter-area oscillation and coherency grouping are as well ameliorated on considering the geographical location and distance of PMU monitoring stations. This proposed method was applied in the analysis of the Turkish blackout happened on March 2015 which resulted in serious successive degradation of frequency in European power grid. Signals measured in representative monitoring stations with PMU equipment locating Continental Europe (CE) were used to establish detailed and global analysis of the accident, including the warning of oscillation, the propagation trend and the identification of the inter-area oscillations. Based on this practical application in on-line monitoring case, the effectiveness and sensitivity of the proposed method are discussed at the end of the paper.