The use of a PMU-based state estimator for tracking power system dynamics

Monitoring of the power system states in real time, especially after the occurrence of a fault, can enhance the situational awareness of the power system operators. Although the state estimator is designed for monitoring steady state conditions of the power system, the advent of Synchronized Measurement Technology (SMT) can make the state estimator a helpful tool for monitoring the power system operating condition in quasi real time. In this paper, the use of a linear state estimator using only synchronized phasor measurements will be presented. The innovation lies in the use of the linear state estimator for the estimation of the states of the system in the presence of a fault. With the proper PMU placement, all system buses can be monitored accurately and the voltage/angle behavior can be tracked with precision.