Input Estimation for Power Plant Model Validation Using PMU Terminal Measurements

Validation and parameter identification for dynamic power plant models using disturbance data from phasor measurement units (PMUs) are of growing importance. They provide a cost-effective means of assessing and improving model quality. The popular playback method for validation regards as constant inputs to the simulation model such as the exciter reference voltage and governor reference power. In this paper, a method is proposed to estimate these input quantities from the PMU measurements. Current practice is to discard disturbances that coincide with scheduled changes to these input quantities. The method presented here allows these disturbance events to be used for validation and identification of simulation models and, more generally, opens the possibility of using reference changes to validate portions of the model not typically excited during disturbances. A case study is presented that shows the successful application of the method to an event for a generator in the Western United States.