Frequency Control Concerns in the North American Electric Power System

Technical Report · Wed Mar 26 04:00:00 EST 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/885842· OSTI ID:885842

Kirby, B J

This paper examines the relationship between system frequency, reliability and markets. It was prompted by the frequency deviations recently experienced at 2200 hours daily but is more generally concerned with the question of what frequency control is necessary. The paper does not provide new information or document new research. Nor is it intended to educate readers concerning power system engineering. Instead, the purpose is to reexamine well known truths concerning the power system and to freshly explore the basic relationship between frequency, reliability and markets: stepping back, if you will, to see if we are collectively missing something. The concern of this paper is with frequency and reliability. Off-nominal frequency can impact reliability and markets efficiency (as we are using the term here) in four ways. It could damage equipment (generation, transmission, or load). It could degrade the quality of the product being delivered to end users (too low and lights would flicker unacceptably, for example). It could result in the collapse of the power system itself (by triggering protective system actions, for example). Or it could result in overloading transmission lines as various generators try to restore system frequency impacting markets efficiency. Often these causes operate in concert. Generator protective systems take action to prevent generator damage, for example, but exacerbate the overall generation/load imbalance. The paper is divided into two sections. The Introduction is followed by a section titled ''A Perspective on Frequency Control'' which addresses the physical requirements of the power system and how market transactions interact with the physical system. The ''Frequency Standards and Control Performance'' section discusses the various NERC and regional reliability council policies that govern utility performance and how these relate to frequency and reliability. Finally, Conclusions are provided.

• Research Organization: ORNL
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 885842
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-2003/41
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
EFFICIENCY
FREQUENCY CONTROL
MARKET
PERFORMANCE
POWER SYSTEMS
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
RELIABILITY