PSS Tuning at the Virginia Electric and Power Co. Bath County Pumped Storage Plant

This paper outlines test procedures and results for tuning the Power System Stabilizers (PSS´s) at the Virginia Electric and Power Company Bath County Pumped Storage Plant. High machine reactance and critical operating conditions provided a challenging damping problem that was solved using computerized test equipment and classical feedback controller design techniques. On-site tests involved obtaining frequency response data for use in determining PSS parameters. Step responses using a general purpose digital controller indicated a definite improvement in rotor damping. This same damping was obtained when the original analog PSS´s were modified and put into service.