Synchronous machine performance under geomagnetic disturbances

Abstract Geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) are known to disturb power system equipment performance. The danger is associated with geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) occurring at the Earth's surface during GMD. GICs do not endanger power system operation conditions by themselves. The main challenge posed by GICs to power system states is the change in power system equipment operation conditions provoked by GIC flow. The primary avenue of blackout caused by GMDs is through power transformers. This, in turn, can impair the operation of other power system equipment such as synchronous machines. Modern powerful synchronous machines are not designed and engineered to cope with the negative impacts of GMDs. Moreover, the actual legal norms are inadequate in this case. Enhancing the grid's resiliency to such an event is highly interesting to the industry. The physical processes in synchronous machine windings triggered by GICs and limitations brought to power grid operations are described. First, the idea of the impact of GMDs on the power grid operation is described. The analysis of the impact of GMDs on synchronous machines is performed in the second section. In the end, the power system response under GMDs is studied.