9404895 Begovic The objective of the proposed research is to explore the opportunities for applications which utilize a new generation of computer-based monitoring and transient recording devices in power systems, such as phasor measurements units (PMUs). Their ability to quickly assess the elements of the power system state vector during the disturbances may be used for monitoring and control of the system state and enhancement of its stability. The main practical obstacle in implementation is their cost, which restricts their widespread use. Often times, only a small number of measurement sites may be chosen according to certain criteria relative to the objective of the intended application. The intensive communication requirement also creates a practical limit on the number of devices that may be used -- even the modern communication networks would have difficulty with the abundance of data generated by the PMUs. The efficient local processing and extraction of essential information from PMU data before they are sent to a central location are important objectives of the proposed research; monitoring and control applications for tracking and enhancement of system stability with restricted resources are also a focal point. Recognizing the timeliness and potential benefits of the proposed work, Georgia Power Company and ESEERCO have committed modest, but much needed resources and equipment in token of their support. This will enable the investigator to test some of the proposed algorithms and techniques on actual data. ***
