Damping controller design for power systems with polytopic representation of operating conditions

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness and advantages of the polytopic representation of uncertainties in the operating conditions for the design of damping controllers for power systems. A model with a better physical meaning (compared to other robust control approaches) is obtained, making the controller design simpler and less conservative. An Hinfinity output-feedback design procedure with pole placement constraints is applied. The designed controller is tested, via nonlinear simulations, on a benchmark model of a power system for various conditions of operation. The results of these simulations show the controller is able to provide damping for strong inter-area oscillations, over the entire range of operating conditions.