Dynamic Behavior of Conventional and Storage Power Plants in a Single Power System

Abstract

It is expected that most of the conventional power plants of today will gradually be replaced by a complete inertia independent system. These new plants will possess storages for different generation speed together with power electronic converters. However, some of the conventional thermal and hydro power plants will remain in operation and act as base power plants in the electrical grid. Thus, in this paper, a method is proposed which will govern the electrical power distribution in a network containing both conventional and the novel inertia-less storage power plants. All the control principles existing today involving spinning reserve, primary control and secondary control depending on frequency are substituted by a comprehensive angle control of the nodal voltages in the transmission and distribution network. With this control method in place, whenever there is a change in the power requirement of the network, the power plants react instantly with the ones closest to the point of disturbance providing the greatest response. The slack storage power plants are able to react faster than conventional ones and can also boost their power reserve during periods of excessive power generation from renewable sources. Not only does this method help to produce more power closer to the point of load demand, reducing the stress on the generators located further away, but it also improves the controllability of conventional power plants leading to lower operational losses.