Virtual Depiction of Power System Stability Phenomena

With the proliferation of distance learning programs in power engineering, the need to reinforce the learning process with the feeling of seeing becomes ever more prominent. This paper proposes the adoption of a virtual environment for demonstrating the power system stability phenomena in power engineering education. The virtual reality toolbox of MATLAB is used to construct a model for the synchronous machine. To enhance the sense of seamless interaction with the simulation, virtual analog meters were embedded in the virtual environment as ActiveX controls, to portray inherent machine variables. Validation studies on a five bus power system have demonstrated the efficacy of the virtual environment as a pedagogical tool for consolidating power system stability concepts.