A new methodology for identification of critical lines using damping sensitivity analysis

When an inter-area mode dominates a low-frequency oscillation in a stressed condition, control of the active power flow of interface lines, with compensating devices, can effectively reduce the electromechanical power oscillations. In general, interface lines in which inter-area oscillations are large are considered to be good locations for installation of compensating devices. A sensitivity analysis with respect to change in active power flow can provide an important factor in electric power system operation. This paper proposes a new methodology to calculate the damping sensitivity with respect to change in active power flow, which can be useful for accurate selection of critical lines from the viewpoint of small-signal stability. In the proposed methodology, a damping sensitivity index is used to select the critical lines to damp power system oscillations. This paper describes how to derive the damping sensitivity for the selected mode and illustrates an example applying the proposed algorithm to a simple two-area system and the New England 39-bus test system.