Oscillation Detection in Real-Time Operations at ERCOT

One of important applications of Synchrophasor technology is Oscillation Detection. This chapter discusses the use of PMU data for oscillation detection in ERCOT System. It presents some examples demonstrating the use of PMU data for oscillation detection. As PMUs have been installed across the ERCOT grid, analyses using the incoming synchrophasor data have indicated that synchronized phasor measurements can greatly improve both ERCOT operations procedures and planning studies. This chapter covers in detail three oscillation events that were detected by Operations personnel as they were occurring on the system. The issues in all three situations were found to be incorrectly operating controllers and/or weak grid conditions (Chen et al, IEEE PES general meeting, 2012, [7]). The control systems in both cases were fixed and the behavior verified using PMU data in future operations.