ECEN 667

Power System Stability

Lecture 21: Modal Analysis

Prof. Tom Overbye

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Texas A&M University
[email protected]
Special Guest Lecture by TA Hanyue Li
 Announcements
• Read Chapter 8
• Homework 5 is due on Tuesday Nov 12

2
 Quickly Determining the b Vectors
• A key insight is from an approach known as the
variable projection method (from Borden, 2013) that
for any signal k Where m is the number of measurements
yˆ k (α )  Φ(α )b k and n is the number of modes
And then the residual is minimized by selecting b k  Φ(α )  y k
where Φ(α ) is the m by n matrix with values
it j
 ji (α )  e if  i corresponds to a real eigenvalue,
it j it j
and  ji (α )  e cos( i 1t j ) and  ji 1 (α )  e sin( i 1t j )
for a complex eigenvalue; t j   j  1 T
Finally, Φ(α ) is the pseudoinverse of Φ(α)
A. Borden, B.C. Lesieutre, J. Gronquist, "Power System Modal Analysis Tool Developed for Industry Use," Proc. 2013
North American Power Symposium, Manhattan, KS, Sept. 2013
3
 Aside: Pseudoinverse of a Matrix
• The pseudoinverse of a matrix generalizes concept of a
matrix inverse to an m by n matrix, in which m >= n
– Specifically this is a Moore-Penrose Matrix Inverse
• Notation for the pseudoinverse of A is A+
• Satisfies AA+A = A
• If A is a square matrix, then A+ = A-1
• Quite useful for solving the least squares problem since
the least squares solution of Ax = b is x = A+ b
• Can be calculated using an SVD A  U Σ V T
 
A VΣ U T

4
 Least Squares Matrix
Pseudoinverse Example
• Assume we wish to fix a line (mx + b = y) to three
data points: (1,1), (2,4), (6,4)
• Two unknowns, m and b; hence x = [m b]T
• Setup in form of Ax = b

1 1 1  1 1
 2 1  m    4  so A =  2 1
  b     
 6 1    4   6 1

5
 Least Squares Matrix
Pseudoinverse Example, cont.
• Doing an economy SVD
 0.182 0.765
  6.559 0   0.976 0.219 
A  UΣV   0.331 0.543 
T
  0.219 0.976 
0 0.988
 0.926 0.345    

• Computing the pseudoinverse

   0.976 0.219  0.152 0   0.182 0.331 0.926 
A VΣ U   T
 0   0.765 0.543 0.345 
 0.219 0.976  1.012  
  T  0.143 0.071 0.214 
A VΣ U   
 0.762 0.548 0.310 

In an economy SVD the S matrix has dimensions of

m by m if m < n or n by n if n < m
6
 Least Squares Matrix
Pseudoinverse Example, cont.
• Computing x = [m b]T gives
1 
  0.143 0.071 0.214    0.429 
A b   4   
 0.762 0.548 0.310  4  1.71 
 
• With the pseudoinverse approach we immediately see
the sensitivity of the elements of x to the elements of b
– New values of m and b can be readily calculated if y changes
• Computationally the SVD is order m2n+n3 (with n < m)

7
 2000 Bus System Example
• In PowerWorld open the case
ECEN460_TSGC_GenDrop
– This is a 2000 bus synthetic electric grid on the ERCOT
footprint that we use in our undergraduate and graduate
classes to study larger power systems
• Run the predefined transient stability contingency
– Response following the loss of two generators
This is a synthetic power system model that does NOT represent
the actual grid. It was developed as part of the US ARPA-E
Grid Data research project and contains no CEII. To reference
the model development approach, use:
A.B. Birchfield, T. Xu, K.M. Gegner, K.S. Shetye, and T.J.
MIAMI Overbye, "Grid Structural Characteristics as Validation
Criteria for Synthetic Networks," IEEE Transactions on
A
17%
Amps
A
13%

PANHANDLE 4
Amps

Power Systems, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 3258-3265, July 2017.

PANHANDLE 2
For more information, contact [email protected].
A
14%
Amps

Note: this grid is fictitious and doesn't

represent the real Texas grid
A
18%
Amps

A
18%
Amps

WICHITA FALLS 1

RALLS 1
A
22%
Amps 25%
A

SAVOY
31%
A

Am ps
PARIS 2

PARIS 1
Potential Coal Plant Retirements
Bus Number
A SHERM ANAmp
1s

Max MW Status
11%
Amps

OLNEY 1 14%

6078 563 MW Closed

MOUNT PLEASANT 2
A A Am ps
27% 20% A
Amps A Amps 22%
23%
A Amps
23%
Amps
A
DENTON1A
BR YSON 1
42%
BRIDGEPORT
AAmps A 35% M CKINNEY 3 GREENVILLE1
41%A
MCKINNEY 1
Amps
37% Amps A A A

GRAHAM
A Amps
32% Amps
16% A 37% 29%

6079 563 MW Closed

37% AL LEN 1

MOUNT PLEASANT 1
Amps Amps Amps
JACKSBORO 1 POOLVILLE Amps
Amps A 2%A A
45% A
27%
AAmps 33%
Am ps 14% 6%18%
A

RICHARDSON 2
Amps
Amps Amps
FLUVANNA 2 Amps
A A E R2 Amps

O DONNELL 17%
A KELL
37% 27%
A 23% A
Amps A 37% AAmps A 33%
Amps
Amps 4% A 13% GARLAND 1
Amps

6080 563 MW Closed

Amps Amps 16%
A Amps A
Am ps N 1
ARLINGTO
34% 20%
SNYDER 2

41%
A
49%
A
A
A
ALBANY 1 41%
A
ALEDO 1
39%
A
Amps
5%
7%
A
A
Amps

Am ps
33%
49%
Amps
Amps Amps GR ANDAmAmp
pss 3
PRAIRIE 17%
A

PALO PINTO 1 35%

31%
DALLAS 1
Amps
Amps
ABILE NE 2 A Am ps
A A Am ps
8% 36%
HERMLEIGH
8129 660 MW Closed
A A
Amps
A
A
Am ps Amps
38% 21%
29%
61%
ABILENE 1 A Amps M ANSFIELD
AAmps
Amp
ROSCOE
s 2
Amps 38% 11%
Amps Am ps M IDLOTHIAN 1
GRANBURY 2
A
A A 57%
53% A GR ANBURY 1

8130 660 MW Closed

ROSCOE 545%
M ERKEL1 72%
ENNIS
TYLER 4
48%A
Amps

GLEN ROSE 1
Amps ST EPHENVILLE
A A 48%
Amps Amps
A
20%
TYLER 7
Amps
AmpsWINGATE 28%
AmpsA A A
20% 65% Amps 15%
Amps Amps A Amps
TRINIDAD 1 A
A 29%A
26% 1% 29%

8131 660 MW Closed

CORSICANA 2
SILVER Am ps
A Am ps A Amps A A Amps
20% A
25%
MT. ENTERPRISE
A 9%
57% Amps 24%23% A
A
Amps Amps AmpsAmps 27%
Amps 6% JACKSONVILLE 1

STERLING CITY 1
A A Amps
30% Am ps FAIRFIELD 1
7%
Amps Amps

ODESSA 1 CUSHING 1
A
39%
Amps
FAIRFIELD 2
A

A
BROWNWOOD 33%
Am ps

16% WAC
A O2 A
Amps 4% 24%

MONAHANS 1
A Amps Amps
A 9%
13% Am ps A
WACO 1

RIESEL 1
Amps
16%
A

JEWETT 1
Amps
A AA 46%
20% 35%
44%
GOLDTHWAITE 1 32% A
A
29%
A Amps A

LUFKIN 3
Amps 79%
AmpsAm ps Amps 15% Amps
Amps Amps

COPPE RAS COVE

MCCAMEY 1
A
18%
1%
A
Amps
BREM OND
FRANKLIN
CHRISTOVAL
Amps A A
10% 27%
TEMPLE 1
A
KILLEE
Amps
N3 Amps
5%
Am ps
KILLEEN 4
A A
38% 28%

GEORGETOWN 3
Amps Amps
BURNET
A A
A
25% 62%
11% Amps
A 1
BRYAN
Amps
Amps 31%
A
Amps
A 20%
A 3% A Amps COLLEGE STATION 2 A

MARBLE
13%
FALLS
7% 2 Amps
A LEANDER 1 AmpsA
A 12%
A
32%
A

ROCKDALE 1
67%
Amps
CALDWELL
39%
Amps
SHIRO
13% 47%
A
CEDAR PARK A
Amps 10% Am ps
Amps
11%
WILLIS 2
Amps A
Amps Amps PFLUGERVI LE
A
59% Amps
WILLIS 1

AUSTIN
Am ps

1
A
33% A
52% A
Amps 7% A A 46% A
Amps
Amps 15% AUSTINA3 60% Amps 43%
CONROE 5
A
Am psA8%
Am ps
30% A Amps
44%
Amps
A
AUSTIN 2
A

BRENHAM
MAAmps 38%
AGNOLIA 1
31%
Amps
A
22%
SPRING 8
A A 22% 23% Amps Amps
Amps
45% 11%CEDAR CREEK 1
BASTROP
Amps Amps
Amps Am ps A A
A
54% 22% SPRING2 DAYTON
7% AA

KERRVILLE
AWINCHEST ER Amps
Amps
3%
22% 30%
Amps
CYPRESS 1 A
Amp
Ampss Amps A
A
24% 50%
A
38%
Amps
KYLE
LA GRANGE
Amps
HOUSTON 5 Amps

SAN
47% MARCOS
18% A

BOERNE 2
A
2%
DEL RIO
HOUSTON 90
A Amps CHANNELVIEW 1
34% Amps A
Amps
Amps
NEW BRAUNFELS 1 16% KA TY 2

KATY 3
HOUSTON4A LA PORTE
A Amps COLUMBUS
9% SU GAR LAND 3
21%

33%
AA A A Amps Amps
PASADENA 3
BAYTOWN 1
MARION 1
A
17%
A 2 A 28% 7%
A 15%
SA NANTONIO SEGUIN 1 A
10%
Amps
Amps A Amps
42% AmpsA
38% A SUGAR LAN D2
A11% Amps AmpsA 42% 6% A 35%
20%AAmpsA SAN 13%
Amps Amps
A AANTONIOAmps
37 A Amps 44% Amps LEAGUECITY
7% 36%
THOMPSONS
AAmps
13% Amps 15%
Amps M ISS OURI CITY 2
22%34%
Amps
AAm ps
10%
HONDO SAN ANTONIO 1
A Amps
Amps Amps ALVIN
ANTONIO 50A A
22% AmpsSAN
4%59% A
Amps TEXAS CITY 1
Amps A
23% AmpsAmps 57%

GALVESTON 1
Amps

WHARTON 1
Amps SAN ANTONIO 22 A A NEWGULF
A
A A 18%
ELMENDORF
28% 22% 5% EL CAM PO 6%
Amps

YOAKUM
AmpsA Amps
Amps Amps
A 5% ANGLETON
A 18% Amps
A 61% AmpsCUERO 2 A

FLORESVILLE
40%Amps 42% LAKE JACKSON
Amps
Amps

FREEPORT 2
FREEP ORT 1
A A
42%
Amps PEARSALL 22%NURSERY
Amps A
A A
14%
A

8%A14% 45%BAYAmpsCITY
11%
A
A
KENEDY
47%
AmpsAmps
4%
FANNIN
Amps VICTORIA 2
35% 68%
A A WADSWORTH Amps

CHRISTINE
A Am ps A POINT COM FO RT 2
Amps VICTORIA 1 Amps Amps
16% A
64%
Amps 14% Amps
A
A
Amps
27%
12%
PORT LAVACA
Am ps
Amps

EAGLE PASS

A
12%
Amps

A
13%
AmpsTA FT 1

A
50%
GREGORY
LAREDO 7
AmpsCO RPUS CHRISTI 1
A
A 32%
12% Amps
Amps

CORPUS CHRISTI 3
LA REDO 1

A
23% 28%A
Amps Amps28%
A
OILTON
LAREDO4
Amps
A
32% A

8
A
Amps 33% 33%
A AAmps A Amps

SARITA 1
3% 13% 38%
Amps
Amps Am ps

ARMSTRONG 1
A
57%
Amps
A
38%
A
Amps
38%
A
Amps
38%
Amps

47%
A SAN PERLITA
Amps

A
M ISSION 4 7%
A Am ps

MISSION
46%
1
A
46%Amps
SAN JUAN

Amps
 2000 Bus System Example
• On the Transient Stability page select Results from
RAM, view the Bus page display just the bus
frequencies, right-click and select Modal Analysis
All Columns We’ll work with frequencies
in Hz rather than per unit

9
 2000 Bus System Example
• Initially our goal is to understand the modal
frequencies and their damping
• Initially we’ll consider just one of the 2000 signals

Toggle the Include to

“No” for all the 2000
signals, except set
the first one to “Yes”

Once only the first

signal is selected,
click the Do Modal
Analysis
10
 2000 Bus System Example,
One Signal
• Note the modes and their damping. The signal
dialog indicates that we have fairly accurately
reproduced the first signal Calculated mode
information

PWDVectorGrid Variables
60

59.98

59.96

59.94

59.92

59.9

59.88

59.86

Values
59.84

59.82

59.8

59.78

59.76

59.74

59.72

Comparison of frequency for 59.7

2 4 6 8
Time (Seconds)
10 12 14

the first bus Original Value Reproduced Value

11
 2000 Bus System Example,
Comparing the Other Signals
• Sort on the cost function to see the worst match

Bus 8078 has the worst match

• Now we will rerun it including this bus frequency
signal as well; that is, now a total of two signals
12
 2000 Bus System Example,
Now With Two Signals
• The left image shows the original match for bus 8078
(when not included), and the right when included
PWDVectorGrid Variables
PWDVectorGrid Variables
60.02 60
60.01
59.99
60
59.98
59.99
59.97
59.98
59.97 59.96
59.96 59.95
59.95 59.94
59.94 59.93
59.93 59.92
59.92 59.91
Values

59.91 59.9

Values
59.9 59.89
59.89
59.88
59.88
59.87
59.87
59.86 59.86

59.85 59.85
59.84 59.84
59.83 59.83
59.82 59.82
59.81 59.81
59.8 59.8
59.79
59.79
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Time (Seconds)
Original Value Reproduced Value
Original Value Reproduced Value

13
 Updated Modes
• The calculated modes and damping have changed
slightly with the additional signal

14
 2000 Bus System Example,
Iterative Matrix Pencil
• Now run the Iterative Matrix Pencil method

15
 2000 Bus System Example,
Iterative Matrix Pencil
• With the inclusion of just ten signals (out of 2000)
quite accurate modal information is obtained for all
2000 frequency signals
This is the worst match (at bus 1072)

PWDVectorGrid Variables
60

59.98

59.96

59.94

59.92
59.9

59.88

59.86
Values

59.84

59.82
59.8
59.78

59.76

59.74

59.72

59.7

59.68

2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Time (Seconds)

Original Value Reproduced Value

16
 Takeaways So Far
• Modal analysis can be quickly done on a large
number of signals
– Computationally is an O(N3) process for one signal,
where N is the number of sample points; it varies linearly
with the number of included signals
– Number of sample points is automatically determined
from the highest desired frequency (The Nyquist-
Shannon sampling theory requires sampling at twice the
highest desired frequency)
– Determining how signals are manifested in modes is fast
(done when Include Reproduced is Yes)

17
 Getting Mode Details
• Detailed information about each mode is available by
right-clicking on mode and selecting Show Dialog

18
 Quickly Visualizing Results:
Geographic Data Views (GDVs)
• GDVs were introduced into PowerWorld about twelve
years back to provide a quick way of visualizing
geographic information; they are ideally suited for
modal results
• To create a GDV oneline of the substations, go to Case
Information, Aggregation, Substations. Then right-
click in any column (Gen MW here) and select
Geographic Data View, Select Column then
Geographic Data View
• This displays the Geographic Data View Customization
Dialog
19
 GDV Customization Dialog
• Select Browse to Open an Existing Oneline and select
NorthAmerica_Blank
• The Fields and
Attributes page can
be used to customize
the GDV appearance
• As an example of a
GDV showing the
substation gen MW,
select the Total Area field
• Select Add Geographic Data View Objects…
20
 GDV Display Customization
• As created the GDV shows substation generation,
but we will shortly modify it to show modal
information
M IAM I

PA N HA ND LE 1

P AN H AN DLE 2

• Save the display with a RA L LS 1

VE RN ON 1

WICHI TA FALLS 1

different name – say

PARIS 2

PARIS 1

AR CH ER 2

OLNEY 1

B RY SO N 1

BRIDGEPORT D EN T ON 1

GRAHAM
MCK INNEY 1

M OUNT PLEASANT 1
POOLV IL LE
FL U VA NN A 2
O D ON ONE LLDO NN1 EL L 2

AL BA N Y 1
SYNDER
SN YD ER 1 ARLINGT ON 1
DALLAS 2

ECEN460_SubGen
PALO PINTO 1
H ER M L EI G H
A B I L EN E 2
DALLAS 1
RO S CO E 1 AB I L EN E 1
RO S CO E 2

T RE N T 1
RO SC OE 3
M IDLOTHI AN 1
GRANBURY 2

ROSCOE 5 M ER K EL 1

GLEN ROSE 1
GR AN BU RY 1
NOLAN ENNI S

B LA CK W EL L WINGAT E

B I G S P RI N G 3

GO LD SM I T H BI G S PR IN GS

B I G S P RIN G 1

M T. ENTERPRISE

STERLI NG CI TY 1

ODESSA1 J AC K SO NV IL LE 1

FA I R FI EL D 1

MONAHANS 1

• To modify a GDV oneline,

RIESEL 1

JEWETT 1
GO LD TH W A I T E 1

M CC A M EY 1

FRANKLIN

CH RI S TO VA L

TE M PL E 1

I R AA N 1

M ARBLE FALLS 2 ROC KDALE 1

WILLIS 1

just right-click on any

AUSTIN 1

AU ST I N 3

AUS TIN 2

CEDAR CREEK 1 BASTROP

W I N C HE ST ER

HOUSTON 5
LAGRANGE

HOUSTON
CHANNELVIEW
6 1
BAYTOWN 2
NEW BRAUNFELS 1
LAPORTE
BA YT OW N 3

HOUSTONPASADE
4DEERNAPARK
2
PA SA DE NA 1

LA PORTE
BAYTOWN 1
MARION 1 PASADENA 3
S AN A NT ON I O 2
SEGUIN 1

THOMPSONS
SAN ANTONIO 1
ALVIN

GDV display object and

WHARTON 1
ELMENDORF NE W GU L F

FREEPORT 2
FREEPORT 1

The GDV Styles can also

NURSERY

VI CTORIA 2 WADSWORTH
CHRI STINE F ANNIN
POI NT COM FORT 2
V I C TO RI A 1

POINT COM FORT1

select View Geographic be shown by selecting B RU NI 1

TAFT 2
TAFT 1

GREGORY
CORPUS CHRI STI 1

CORPUS CHRISTI 3

Onelines, List Display,

Data View Options
SA RI TA 1

SA RI T A 2

SA RI TA 3

A RM S T RON G 1

Geo Data View Styles M I S SI ON 1

SA NT A RO S A 1
S AN PE RL I T A

SE BA ST I AN 1
S EB AS TI AN 2

BROWNSVILLE 1

21
 Transient Stability Toolbar
• One application of GDVs is wide area visualization
of time-sequenced results using the transient
stability toolbar
• These displays can then be made into a movie by
either
– Capturing the screen as the contours are creating using
screen recording software such as Camtasia
– Or having Simulator automatically store the contour
images as jpegs and then creating a movie using software
such as Microsoft Movie Maker

22
 Transient Stability Toolbar
• The toolbar uses stored transient stability results,
and hence it is used only after the transient stability
solution has finished
– It can be used with results that are either saved RAM or
saved to the hard drive
– It has recently been updated to show PMU and modal
analysis data
• It requires having a oneline with objects associated
with the desired results (such as buses, generators,
substations, etc)
– Again these can be auto-created with GDVs

23
 Showing the Toolbar
• The toolbar is shown by either
– Selecting Add-ons, Stability Case Info, Show Transient
Contour Toolbar
– On the Transient Stability Analysis Form select the Show
Transient Contour Toolbar button at the bottom of the form
• The toolbar is only fully enabled if there are results to
contour
• We’ll demonstrate it using the previous GDV, except
changing the object size to be almost not visible

The oneline is saved as ECEN460_SubSmall

24
Toolbar

Use to control
time

Only objects
with associated
time-varying
data should be
selected

Use options to
control the contour
and the storage of
images for movies
25
Toolbar: Voltage Deviation
Sometimes the best
field to visualize is
the deviation from the
initial values (here
the figure shows
voltage magnitude
deviation)
Designing synthetic
grids helps to
highlight the
complexities in
designing the actual
grid!!

26
 Visualizing Mode Magnitude and
Angle Components
• GDVs can be used to quickly visualize information
about the modes
• To visualize mode magnitude and angles, we’ll use the
substation custom fields to store the mode values
• Rerun modal analysis using the substation average
frequency field. That is,
– Start from the Results From RAM, Substation display
– Show just Frequency Average field
– Right-click to select “Modal Analysis All Columns” to show the
Modal Analysis Form
– Select the Iterative Matrix Pencil method and click on Do
Modal Analysis; view the Mode Details dialog for 0.63 Hz
27
 Visualizing Mode Magnitude and
Angle Components
• We’ll use the custom fields
to tell the substation objects
about this mode’s data
– Select the Angle field, set the
Custom Floating Point Field to
1; click Transfer Results
– Repeat, except click on the
Magnitude Unscaled field and set the Custom
Floating field to 2
• Create a new GDV display using the
ECEN460_SubSmall display (the customizations
are on the next slide)
28
 GDV Visualization of Mode
Magnitude and Angle Components
• Set the GDV Style as
– On the General Display Options page set the Style to
Arrows and the Text to Show field to None.
– On the Fields and Attributes page
• Total Area uses the Custom Float 2 field (magnitude); a ballpark
largest size should be 50000.
• Rotation Angle uses the Custom
Float 1 field (angle)
• Line Thickness uses the Custom
Float 2 field (magnitude)
• Once a oneline has been setup,
it can be saved for repeated use
• Save the oneline as
ECEN460_Modes 29
Visualization of 0.63 Hz Mode
In this display the
RALLS
RALLS
2 1
CROSBYTON
PADUCAH

SEYMOUR
arrows show the
LUEDERS
magnitude and angle
ABILENE 1

(direction) for the

mode at each
CHE ROKEE
substation.
However, the
problem is there are
BAND
ERA

SAN ANTON

SANANTON
HELOT ES S

S
ANANTO
SANAN

SAN AN
IO

IO14
28
TON

NIO21

TO
SAN AN
IO
SANANTON

S
A
N
ANAN

IO
NAN
31

U
S
ANAN

N
SA

IVER
12
TN
ON
TO

TO
SANANT

NIO13

IO
A
N

TO

S
NT

SAL
IO51

IO25
ANAN

ANAN
5ON
NIO30

C
SAN ANTON

CO
SANANTO
S

IO6

IT
A
O

NV
N

TO

TO
N

YE R
IO
AN

N
IO17

IO
T
37

10
O
NIO34S

SE
IO43 L
N
IO40
SAN ANTON
SAN ANTON

ANAN
ACKLAND

TO
IO

NIO33
IO50

45
A FB
SAN AN

BR A CKE TT VILL E 1
TON
IO

too many arrows!

38

QUEMADO

The solution it so
dynamically prune
the display using the
1
PORT ISABEL
BROWNSVILLE 3
BROWNSVILLE 2
BROWNSVILLE GDV Options,
Pruning command
30
 GDV Display Pruning
• This page allows GDVs to
be selectively displayed
• Select Do Pruning to
modify the oneline so an
invisible grid is
added to the display
and only one GDV arrow
is visible in each grid area
• I also added some color, using a circular color map
to highlight the angles

31
Visualization of 0.63 Hz Mode
Again save the
oneline, now as
ECEN460_Modes;
it can then be
used to quickly
visualize the other
modes

To show other
modes, just go to the
Mode Details dialog
for a different
frequency and again
transfer the angle and
magnitude
32
Visualization of 0.76 Hz Mode

33
 Visualizing the Source of
Oscillations
• For showing the source of sustained oscillations
assume zero damping and recognizing that the source
of the oscillation will have a leading phase angle, shift
all the fk,j so it is zero at the bus with the largest Ak,j
and set t=0. Then
 k , j  Ak , j cos  k , j 
• Then approximate the mode j power flow on all lines
between buses m and n as
1
Pmn  ( Ak ,m cos  k ,m   Ak ,n cos  k ,n  )
X mn
• The location of the oscillation has positive net power

34
 Visualizing the Source of
Oscillations in PowerWorld
• Now done mostly automatically in PowerWorld
• To apply the approach with transient stability
– Run the transient stability storing the bus angles
– Do modal analysis on the bus angles; technique is only
applicable if there are lightly or negatively damped
modes
– Select the desired mode to display the Mode Analysis
Mode Details Dialog
– When analyzing just bus angles a Visualization
Source of Oscillations button appears; click to
transfer flows to line and substation custom float1

35
Visualizing the Source of Oscillations in
PowerWorld Example
As an example, a 1Hz sustained oscillation was introduced
into the 2000 bus system
Transient Stability Time
(Sec): 15.000

36
Visualizing the Source of Oscillations in
PowerWorld Example

37
Visualizing the Source of Oscillations
in PowerWorld Example
This button only
appears when doing
modal analysis on bus
angles. Clicking on it
1) calculates the mode
power flow on each
line and places the
value in the line’s
custom float 1 field, 2)
calculates the net mode
power injection at each
substation and stores it
in the substation’s
custom float 1 field.
38
Visualizing the Source of Oscillations
in PowerWorld Example
This is a substation GDV, in
The source of the B R I D G E P O RT

which size of objects is

forced oscillation proportional to the custom float
DAL L AS 1

is correctly 1 field; a red/blue color map

shows the direction (red is the
M T. E N T E R PR I S E

identified (bus
source)
7356) at the
Thompsons
substation
W ILLIS 1

AU STI N 1

B A S T R OP

W I NC HE S TE R

HOUS TON 5
LA GRANGE

HOUSTON 6 CHANNELVIEW 1

BAYTOWN 2

LAPORTE
NE W BR A U N F E L S 1
DEER PARK
P AS ADENA 2
P A S A D E NA 1

LA PORTE
BAYTOWN 1
M ARI ON 1 PASADENA 3

SEGUIN 1

S UGA R L A ND 2

SAN ANTONIO 1
THOMPSONS ALVI N

W HA R T ON 1

ELMENDORF

FREEPORT 2
FREEPORT 1

WADSW ORTH

P OI NT C OM F OR T 1

39
Visualizing the Source of Oscillations
in PowerWorld Example
Visualizing the lines’ Custom Float1 fields shows
the flow of the oscillation
HOUSTON 20

HOUSTON 37
HOUSTON 81

KA TY 4 HOUSTON 5 3
HOUSTON 15

BROOK SHI RE
A

A
KATY 1
39%
Amps A HOUSTON 9

A
HOUSTON 36 CHANNEL VIEW 2

26%
HOUSTON 6 2

28%
HOUSTON 90
HOUSTON 49
M ONT B ELVI EU

2%
HOUSTON 6

Amps HOUSTON 73
Amps

CHANNELVIEW
Amps 1
HOUST ON 82
HOUSTON 1
A

HOUSTON 48
HOUSTON 26
32%
Amps
HOUSTON 68
HOUSTON 34

A 33% A

28%
HOUSTON 85

Amps A
22%
HOUSTON 23

A
BAYTOW N 2
HOUSTON 70 HOUSTON 46

HOUSTON 91

Amps
30% 3%
HOUSTON 45

Amps
HOUS TON 10

HOUSTON 16

Amps Amps
HOUSTON 39 HOUSTON 32 B AYTOW N 3

HOUSTON 87
A HOUSTON 61

31% A

KATY 2
HOUSTON 22
HOUSTON 79

KATY 3 31%
HOUSTON 56

Amps
HOUSTON 74
HOUS TON 47
HOUSTON 51

A
Amps
3%
LAPORTE
HOUSTON 3
HOUSTON 33 PAS ADENA 2
PA SADENA 1 DEER PARK
HOUSTON 24

HOUSTON 4
HOUSTON 18

Amps
HOUS TON 43

HOUSTON 60

HOUSTON 77
HOUSTON 83
HOUSTON 31
A

27%
LA PORT E
HOUSTON 88

HOUSTON 14

A
SIM ONTON HOUSTON 7 1

Amps
HOUSTON 52 HOUSTON 2 1

A
HOUSTON 44

21%
HOUSTON 64

32%
BAYTOWN 1
HOUSTON 84
A

SUGAR LAND 3
HOUSTON 27

Amps SOUTH HOUSTON

Amps
39%
Amps
HOUST ON 35

HOUSTON 63
HOUSTON 78 HOUS TON 72

A
HOUSTON 1 9 PASADE NA 5
RICHM OND 2 PAS ADENA 4

9% HOUSTON 50

Amps
STAFFORD

PASADENA 3
HOUSTON 65 HOUSTON 1 7
SUGAR LAND 1
HOUSTON 25 HOUSTON 12

HOUSTON 7

HOUSTON 38

A
A M ISSOURI CI TY 1

A
26% 9%
5%
FULSHEA R

Amps
Amps
HOUSTON 13

Amps
HOUSTON 59

HOUSTON 8

SUGAR LAND 2
PEA RLAND 1

ROSENBERG

PEARLAND 2

A
W EBSTER
FRESNO

A A
42%
31%
35% Amps
Amps
FRI ENDSW OOD

Amps BACLI FF

7%
A
A

22% LEAGUE CITY

RICHM OND 1
Amps

THOMPSONS
Amps
MA NVEL

BEASLEY

MISSOURI CITY 2 DICKINSON

A
29%
Amps A
3%
Amps
ALVIN 27%
Amps

T EXAS CI TY 2

TEXAS CITY 1
A

6%
NEEDVI LLE
ROS HARON

Amps
SANTA FE 2
LA M ARQUE

6%
A Amps

40
30% A
Amps
17%
Amps
GALVESTON 1