A high-frequency simulator for the analysis of power systems

Some existing methods of determining power-system performance are mentioned, and the need of a quick-acting power-system simulator is indicated. Factors involved in power-system simulation are discussed, methods for simulating a synchronous machine using electronic techniques and their application in a power-system simulator are described, and the resulting simulator is shown to behave similarly to the power system represented. By employing comparatively high frequencies and recurrent techniques in conjunction with cathode-ray-oscillographic display equipment, dynamic performance data such as angle/time or swing curves, electrical transients, etc., can be obtained as stationary patterns on the screen of the cathode-ray tube, and effects of change in network parameters can be noted immediately. The method can readily take into account factors normally included in a.c. network-analyser studies: multi-machine problems are handled as readily as simpler ones. Use of the simulator is illustrated. Although the solution of transient stability problems is emphasized, it is pointed out that the instrument is just as useful for other problems, both steady-state and transient. It is concluded that the electronic simulator can provide a quick, convenient, sufficiently accurate and comparatively cheap method of determining power-system performance.