Out-of-step detection in emerging power systems key issues and challenges

The electrical power systems function as a huge and highly interconnected network dispersed over a large area. A balance exist between generated and consumed power, any disturbance to this balance in the system caused due to change in load as well as faults and their clearance often results in electromechanical oscillations inturn variation in power flows, this phenomenon is referred as Power Swing. Stable power swings changes it operating point to new equilibrium point but unstable swings collapse the equilibrium causes cascaded trippings inturn black outs or brown outs. In this paper, several methods of power system Out-of –step detection are critically reviewed. Various OOS detection techniques are discussed in brief; comparision of available approaches are examined and presented. The key issues and challenges are OOS detection are highlighted. A vast collection of papers, books and journals are listed, which is useful for interested researchers, power engineers and utility companies.