Coordination of Damping Controllers: A Novel Data-Informed Approach for Adaptability

Abstract: This paper explores the novel concept of damping controller coordination, which aims to minimize the Total Action metric by identifying an optimal switching combination (on/off) of these controllers. The metric is rooted in power system physics, capturing oscillation energy associated with all synchronous generators in the grid. While coordination has shown promising results, it has relied on computing linear sensitivities based on the grid model. This paper proposes a data-informed framework to accurately estimate total action and subsequently determine an optimal switching combination. The estimation is provided by a multivariate function approximator that captures the nonlinear relationship between system-wide area measurements, the status of damping controllers, and the conditions of the disturbance. By enabling real-time coordination, electromechanical oscillations are reduced, enhancing power system stability. The concept is tested in the Western North America Power System (wNAPS) and compared with the model-based approach for coordination. The proposed coordination outperforms the model-based approach, demonstrating effective adaptability and performance in handling multi-mode events. Additionally, the results show significant reductions in low-frequency electromechanical oscillations even under various operating conditions, fault locations, and time delay considerations.