Power Angle Curve

Power Angle
Load angle or torque angle or rotor angle is an angle difference between stator axis and rotor pole axis of the synchronous machine. For
ideal condition, the load angle is zero since the rotor poles aligned with stator poles, but in practice, this is not possible. The motor has
both mechanical and electrical losses, hence load angle is always present in the synchronous machine.
This angle plays an important role for the stability of the generator. During disturbance, the angle difference increases. If the angle goes
beyond 90°, the generator becomes unstable. This may happen when sudden change of large load occurs or fault sustains longer time.
The generator instability is one of reason for massive blackout in case of major fault occurs in transmission line. The power developed by
the generator is directly proportional to sine of this angle.
Power angle: For a generator, the power angle is the difference between the generator induced voltage and the receiving end voltage. The
value of the power angle is same as the load angle. So, in context of generator, power angle and load angle mean same thing.
For the case of transmission line the power angle is the angle between the angles of the voltages at two different points (bus). The transfer
of power between the two points of power system is proportional to the sine of this angle.
Though there is a distinct difference between these three terms, they are used anonymously in many cases in power system.
 Importance of Power Angle Curve
Power Angle Curve tells us about the electrical power output of synchronous machine when power angle δ is varied. It can be seen from
this curve that as we increase δ from 0 to 90°, the output increases sinusoidally. But a further increase in power angle δ beyond 90°, the
generator electrical output decreases.

Power Angle Curve of Synchronous Machine is the graphical representation of electrical output with respect to the power angle. As we
know, power angle is also known as load angle, therefore it can be said that this curve is graphical representation of electrical output of
generator with respect to load angle.

How
 Power-Angle Curve
In this section we shall consider this relation for a lumped parameter lossless transmission line. Consider the single-machine-infinite-
bus (SMIB) system shown in Fig. In this the reactance X includes the reactance of the transmission line and the synchronous reactance
or the transient reactance of the generator. The sending end voltage is then the internal emf of the generator. The equivalent circuit of this
transmission line (neglecting the shunt capacitance) is shown below.

Let the sending and receiving end voltages be given by

𝑉𝑅 = 𝑉2 <0⁰ voltage of infinite bus
𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉1 <δ voltage behind the direct axis
synchronous reactance of the machine.
For Generator action Vs leads VR.
where δ is angle between the sources and is usually called the power angle (since here considered generator, therefore used this
power angle curve) between the voltages Vs and VR. (Considered Negative for Motor). It is the angle between bus bar voltage and
excitation voltage.
Current flowing through the transmission line

[𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑉𝑠 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑗𝑋 + 𝑉𝑅 ]

[Note: The bus whose voltage and frequency remain constant even after the variation in the load is known as the infinite bus. The alternators operating in parallel in
a power system are the example of the infinite bus. The on and off of any of the alternators will not affect the working of the power system since it receives same
voltage.]
 Power-Angle Curve
The sending end real power and reactive power is

𝑆 = 𝑉𝐼 ∗

This is simplified to

Since the line is loss less, the real power dispatched from the sending end is equal to the real power received at the receiving end.
We can therefore write

where Pmax = V1 V2 / X is the maximum power that can be transmitted over the transmission line

Hence, the transfer of power between the two points of power system is proportional to the sine of this angle.
 Power-Angle Curve

The graphical representation of Pe and the load angle δ is called the power angle
curve. It is widely used in power system stability studies. The power angle curve is
shown here. power angle curve is sinusoidal.

Power angle starts from 0° and increased when the driving torque starts to increase.
When δ reached 90° then maximum power will be transferred (Pmax). Pmax is called
pull-out power and driving torque that is responsible for Pmax is called pull-out torque.
If the angle is more than 90° and then power output would decrease from the Pmax &
generator will lose its synchronism and output power becomes zero at δ = 180⁰.

The value Pmax is called the static stability limit or steady-state stability limit. Maximum power is transferred when δ = 90⁰ for
generator. i.e. the maximum available torque is achieved when the angle by which the rotor field lags the stator field is 90°.
Steady state stability limit is the maximum power flows possible through a specific point without lose of synchronism, when the power
is increased gradually. Therefore, steady state stability limit of synchronous machine corresponds to power for load angle δ = 90°. To
be accurate, it will be (V1V2/X).

Above 180⁰, Pe becomes negative, which shows that the direction of power flow is reversed, and the power is supplied from infinite
bus to the generator instead of consuming which is opposite to the generator action. Therefore it is motoring action.
With increased MW load the load angle also increases and the generator delivers more power.
The only way to adjust load angle is by varying the input to the Turbine. The power output of a synchronous Generator can be changed by
changing its mechanical power input. In case of alternators to deliver desired output for variable loads, Governor is used. Speed control
governor maintain the turbine speed constant by varying the input (Steam or Gas or Water depends on type of Prime mover or Turbine) to
the Prime mover. Governors take feedback of load on the generator and according to feed input to the turbine.

Not only steady state stability limit rather transient stability limit is also affected by the load angle at which machine is operating.
Transient state stability limit is basically the maximum amount of power flow possible without loss of synchronism when a sudden
disturbance occurs. The transient stability limit is determined by Equal Area Criteria which uses power angle curve. Thus power angle
curve is very important for study of stability limit of synchronous machine.
 Example
A generator is connected to a constant voltage bus through an external reactance of 0.3 per unit. The synchronous reactance of the
generator is 0.2 per unit and the voltage magnitude of the constant voltage bus is 1.0 per unit with its angle being 0° . The generator
delivers 0.9 per unit power to the constant voltage bus when the angle of its terminal voltage is 15°. Determine the magnitude and angle
of its internal emf.

Solution:
Solution: