ABSTRACT
Automatic generation control (AGC) is a significant control process that operates constantly to balance the generation and load in power systems at a minimum cost. This chapter presents the fundamentals of AGC and provides structure, definitions, and basic concepts. It describes the AGC mechanism in an interconnected power system, the major functions, and characteristics. AGC provides an effective mechanism for adjusting the generation to minimize frequency deviation and regulate tie-line power flows. The chapter highlights the role of the AGC system in connection with the power system monitoring/control master stations, and remote site control centers to manage the electric energy. It explains the power system operations and frequency control in different ranges of frequency deviation. The chapter also describes a frequency response model, and examines its usefulness for the purpose of simulation and AGC dynamic analysis. In addition to primary frequency control, a large synchronous generator may be equipped with a supplementary frequency control loop.
