Using synchrophasors for controlled islanding - A prospective application for the Uruguayan power system

This paper describes two wide-area protection schemes for controlled islanding of the Uruguayan electrical power system. The first scheme relies only on local signals available for distance protection relays, whereas the second scheme is based both on local and remote synchrophasor measurements. The paper compares results in terms of load shedding amount necessary to maintain system integrity, with and without the proposed protection schemes. The investigation is based on comprehensive transient stability studies using actual dynamical models. Past occurrences that led the system to widespread blackouts have motivated the investigations presented in this paper.