PowerFactoryMonitor

Oscillatory Stability Monitor

Base configuration for solar and wind farms

Tim George and Umberto Cella

DIgSILENT User Group meeting 2023
03 May 2023

POWER SYSTEM ENGINEERING AND SOFTWARE

 Agenda/Contents Layout

1. Background 4. Specification
• Power system description • Sensitivity
• NER • Triggers
• AEMO and NSP
5. Performance
2. Problem description • Field test monitor files
• Observed issues • Factory test
• Issues for TNSP and AEMO
• Regulatory requirements 6. Customisation
• Programmable back-end
3. Equipment overview • Multiple OSM base station
• Hardware • Additional functionality
• Architecture
• Connections

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 Background

3 PFM Oscillatory Stability Monitor - Overview

 Regulatory framework for National Electricity Market

National Electricity Law

National Electricity Rules

Includes:
Guidelines
• Market Rules
• Grid Code Procedures

• PS Operation
• Connections
• Tech standards
• Metering Codes

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 Regulatory bodies

Australian Energy Australian Energy Australian Energy

Market
Market Operator Commission Regulator
(AEMO) (AEMC) (AER)

• Market and System Operator • Makes Rules • Die Polizei

• Has security accountability

Network bodies
• Transmission Network Service Providers – TNSP
• Typically one per state, total of five
• Distribution Network Service Providers – DNSP
• Can be several per state, total is about eleven

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 Australian NEM
• Generation heat map
• Concentrations of large synchronous machines
• Fault levels in remote parts can be low

• Longitudinal structure
• N-S is about – 2500 km
• W-E is about – 1600 km
• HVDC link to Tasmania – 300 km

6 PFM Oscillatory Stability Monitor - Overview Map: AEMO

 Problem description

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 Sub-synchronous oscillations with inverters

• AEMO has observed intermittent lightly damped oscillations in parts of the system where:
• Many inverter-based generating system have been installed
• In parts of the transmission system that are weak – low fault level

There is a need to monitor generating systems (and the power system generally) to detect when these oscillations are
occurring.
This presentation discusses the development of such a monitoring system using:
• DIgSILENT Power Factory Monitor
• Grid Code software tools

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 Example of measured sub-synchronous oscillations

Plot: AEMO “ West Murray technical forum”, 10 February 2020

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 Example: West Murray region of Victoria

• High incidence of solar and wind

• Comparatively low fault level –
remote from synchronous
machines
• HVDC VSC system in north
• SVCs supporting the voltage

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 Wind concentration

• Density of utility scale wind (>30 MW)

• Largest individual wind installation is around 450
MW
• No offshore wind (yet)
• Estimated total wind (east coast only):
• Utility: 15.6 GW

◦ References:
− Map = AEMO
− Capacities = AER

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 Solar concentration

• Density of utility scale solar (>30 MW)

• Largest individual solar installation is around 250
MW
• Estimated total solar (east coast only):
• Utility: 11.5 GW
• Rooftop: 14 GW

◦ References:
− Map = AEMO
− Capacities = AER

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 Problem statement

• Intermittent oscillations in voltage have been observed at various locations where inverter-based generation is connected.
• Issue seems to be worse when power system is weak (low fault level)
• Oscillations are generally in the 5-25 Hz range
• Oscillations are fading, lightly damped and appear as limit cycles, as amplitude modulation of voltage
• Amplitudes of up to 4% have been observed but more commonly around 1% of transmission voltage.
• There is also a Technical Rule (S5.2.5.10) that requires unstable generators to trip / disconnect
• Originally intended for Synchronous machines (reverse power, out of step protection etc)
• Not clear for inverter-based generation

An objective is to develop, agree, implement and commission a suitable protection system that takes into
account nearby plant and their interaction/contribution (desired or undesired) to unstable operation [Aemo]

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 Meter specification

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 Requirements - 1

Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) has a requirement for unstable operation to be detected.

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 Requirements - 2
Some initial specifications, to DIgSILENT’s understanding:
AEMO description of the requirement:
• Detect in real-time V, P and Q oscillations in the range 5 – 45 Hz.
• Sensitivity for triggering: 0.5% V oscillations
• The setting and enabling of these monitors must be co-ordinated with the NSP.
• Violation alarms via the generating system’s SCADA to Control Centre.

Some NSP requirements (verbal –formal guideline issued by only one NSP out of five)
• Do NOT trip if generating system is acting to reduce amplitude of oscillations
• Prefer site specific requirements
• 0.1 Hz at the lower end of frequency range

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 Equipment overview

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 PowerFactoryMonitor

Main features:
• Modular data acquisition system
• Direct measurement from VT and CT
• Analog and Digital inputs
• Internal data processing and logic
• Data on internal drive
• Grid Code application for online audits
• Has GPS synched signals
• Configure/monitor/download via LAN
• Automated reporting with Master Station

https://www.digsilent.de/en/grid-code-compliance-monitoring.html

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 Architecture
{PQV} mag/ang
{f1-f4}
{triggers} Contacts

A/D Signal processing Logic SCADA

Control and action logic:
• Alarm distribution
• Sequence execution

Sensitivity: Signal processing: Event and data logging:

• Worst 0.2% (45 Hz, V) • Monitor four frequencies • Trigger processing
• Rest are <= 0.05% FSD for • Freq tracking • Event files at 10 ms
• 100 Vph-ph rms input • Trigger on {P,Q,V} • Continuously recorded 1s files
• 1 A rms input • Buffer = Ts • Flow chart logic
• GPS synchronised • Update = sample rate
• FMIN = depends on Ts and sample rate

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 Example of installation with industrial PC

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 Specification

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 Specifications – base unit
• Frequency range:
• 0.1 Hz to 45 Hz with 10 s data window
• Sampling rate is 10 ms
• Calculation rate is 2 Hz (data window “snapshot” is taken every 2 s)
• Sensitivity:
• Tested at ~90% nominal voltage, 1 A rms current
• Better or equal to 0.05% except 45 Hz, 0.2%
• Monitored signals:
• P, Q, V
• Four separate frequencies can be monitored simultaneously
• Triggers on each and any of P, Q and V
• Amplitude (e.g. 0.5% voltage) and duration (in seconds)

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 Specifications – 2
Outputs:
• Potential free contacts when triggered
Monitored data:
• When triggered:
◦ All internal parameters at 10ms:
− P, Q, V
− Fn for n=1 up to 4 monitored frequencies
− Option: 15 kHz voltages and currents
◦ Daily monitor file: all internal parameters at 1 s rate, regardless of trigger
• Web interface for configuration and to retrieve data (COMTRADE format)
• PowerFactory Master Station – optional extra – can monitor multiple units

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 Specifications – 3
Phase difference between oscillations:
• Phase difference between Q and V oscillations
• Estimate if plant voltage controller is opposing or not the voltage oscillation
• Additional trigger and contact is set up if the phase difference is below a threshold

Be careful in using this criterion:

• Capacitor bank: if voltage increases, also Q increases: is it contributing to the oscillation? NO
• Combined capacitor bank and voltage controller in a plant: whose action does prevail?
• Measurements shall be taken and decisions made on how to apply this feature
• OSM takes measurements and recordings of events!

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 Measurements

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 Application example 1.1 (real) – with 1% triggers

• PFM OSM is installed on a feeder connecting a renewable generator to a substation bus

• Data for one day or operation (daylight hours) using monitor file (1s) data as trigger conditions (1%) were not met.

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 Application – 1.2

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 Application – 1.3

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 Application – 1.4

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 Application example 2.1 (lab) – 13 and 18 Hz

• PFM OSM is injected with a voltage and a current modulated in amplitude

• There is no oscillation at the start
• The modulation is 4 V on the voltage
• Its frequency changes from 13 to 18 Hz

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 Measuring accuracy - oscillation amplitude
Source of error:
• RMS calculation introduces a bias
• Error increases with oscillation frequency
• However, RMS is very convenient as a signal
source
• Accuracy at high ( > 30 Hz) oscillation
frequency is not critical
• The aim of the OSM is to provide indication and
alarming on oscillations, rather than meeting an
accuracy requirement

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 Measurement accuracy - phase

Oscillation phase detection error:

• Increases with frequency
• Still good (< 10 deg) above
30 Hz
• The aim of the phase
detection is to provide
indication and alarming on
oscillations, rather than
meeting an accuracy
requirement

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 Measurement accuracy - phase

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 Customisation

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 Configuration and customisation
• Customization of the base configuration is possible, as it is based on a generic platform
• OSM application signal processing can be configured in different ways
• Frequency range
• Range of triggers
◦ Threshold, time, logical combinations
• Logic can also be configured
• triggered events, for example alarms can be raised for different combination of measurements:
◦ If > x% then set alarm #1
◦ If > y% and < z% and time > T seconds then set alarm #2
• Monitoring multiple monitors can be done with PFM Master Station software:
• Can have automated email notifications with data excerpts (i.e. time of trigger, oscillation frequency and amplitude)
• Can synch multiple PFM OSMs using GPS

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 Comments

Semiconductor supply chain is affecting delivery time – it happened to us as well…

Basic configuration is:
• Four frequencies are monitored
• One common alarm contact for any trigger on P, Q or V oscillation
• A second alarm contact for phase difference of Q and V oscillation lower than a threshold
• GPS card is the default time synch option
• No industrial computer is supplied, only LAN connectivity to Client’s network
• Supplied configured and calibrated
• Single power supply (redundant supply can be provided if requested, but needs SSU32)
• For use indoors in clean, air-conditioned environment, with ventilated cabinet (19”rack)

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Melbourne (Head Office) Perth Brisbane Project Team

Level 13, Suite 11, Level 2, Level 5, 82 Eagle Street Umberto Cella
484 St Kilda Rd 189 St Georges Terrace Brisbane Jennifer Crisp
Melbourne VIC 3004 Perth, WA 6000 QLD 4000 Tim George

+61 3 8582 0200 +61 8 6220 6700 +61 7 3144 6400

@digsilent-pacific
[email protected]
digsilent.com.au

Copyright ©️ DIgSILENT Pacific Ptd Ltd 2023. All rights reserved. This document is subject to contract and contains confidential and proprietary information.