Enhanced transmission utilization with an integrated measurement, protection, and control system

With the advent of privatization, deregulation, and competition in the electric utility industry, there is a demand for increased utilization and flexibility in the power transmission networks. Also, the increasing availability of advanced, multifunction measurement devices allows the development of comprehensive wide-area protections systems. The paper discusses an integrated wide-area protection system (IWAPS) that comprises multiple levels of system protection and control. Digital methods allow the implementation of protection applications to cover a wide range of potential power system problems, including voltage stability, angle stability, transfer capability, and power quality. The IWAPS system can provide significant savings in the form of higher utilization of transmission assets and reduced equipment and customer outages.