A novel adaptive wide area PSS based on output-only modal analysis

Usage of wide area PSSs (WAPSS) in actual power systems is limited because of their restricted adaptability to different operating conditions. Numerous adaptive control methods have been proposed to solve this problem, but they are limited due to strict prerequisites, such as the necessity of consistent excitations or large disturbances. This paper, therefore, presents a novel adaptive wide area PSS (AWAPSS), which has the ability of tracking system operating condition without the need for meeting the above prerequisites. The inherent dead-band structure of a WAPSS enables a steady system to perform like in an open loop, thus allowing the parameters of a WAPSS to be tuned adaptively through output-only modal analysis. The effectiveness of the novel AWAPSS has been validated in a two-area four-machine system as well as in a large complex system, China Southern Grid.