A perspective on WAMS analysis tools for tracking of oscillatory dynamics

Over roughly the past two decades, an architecture has evolved for using Wide Area Measurement Systems to monitor power-system oscillatory dynamics. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of Phasor Measurement Units and advanced signal processing algorithms. Today, this architecture is further evolving toward real-time operation applications. This paper provides a perspective upon these analysis approaches, and defines and clarifies analysis operations, interactions, and application conditions. An overview of WAMS analysis approaches is given along with several examples from the western North American Power System.