System and method of predicting the presence of an out-of-step condition in a power system

A method of predicting the presence of an out-of-step condition in a power system, the power system including a plurality of generators, the method including the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a differential value (δCOIk) between a rotor angle (δk) of an individual one of the plurality of generators and an equivalent rotor angle (δCOIk) of the centre of inertia of the remainder of the plurality of generators;
• (b) processing the differential value (δCOIk) to determine whether the differential value (δCOIk) is predicted to reach a predefined reference threshold (δthreshold);
• and
• (c) predicting the presence of the out-of-step condition in the power system if the differential value (δCOIk) is predicted to reach the predefined reference threshold (δthreshold);
• wherein processing the differential value ({tilde over (δ)}COIk) to determine whether the differential value ({tilde over (δ)}COIk) is predicted to exceed a predefined reference threshold (δthreshold) includes:
• (d) detecting the level of fluctuation of obtained differential values ({tilde over (δ)}COIk);
• (e) fitting the obtained differential values ({tilde over (δ)}COIk) to a curve if the level of fluctuation exceeds a fluctuation threshold;
• and
• (f) based at least in part on the fitting the obtained differential values ({tilde over (δ)}COIk) to the curve, facilitating coordinated operation of the individual one generator of the plurality of generators with the plurality of generators.