Suitability of excitation systems for power system stabilizer application

The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the problems that have arisen in the application of PSS to new types of generation that is appearing. These problems had to do with the actual design of the stabilizer hardware, the choice of signal, the implementation problems, the interaction between the stabilizer signal and shaft torsional, effects of loading and unloading on terminal voltage, and of course, the acceptability of the excitation systems themselves. These problems can be addressed if: system operators make their requirements clear to connecting generators; companies contracting for new generation ensure that whoever is doing the engineering understands and meets the system operator´s standards; manufacturers take an active role in understanding the use for which their equipment is being purchased to ensure that it is suitable; and technical bodies such as the IEEE ensure that problems that have been encountered are made known to the industry.