Abstract
This paper presents techniques to characterize a salient pole synchronous generator while it is online. Due to the need for an accurate model of the power system, the WECC and NERC introduced a policies which states that utilities need to maintain up-to-date parameters for their system for generating units above 20MW. Consequently, the common practice is to follow the IEEE 115 standard which requires the generator to be taken offline. Taking a generator offline creates a significant cost for the generation facility due to the time required to parameterize the machines. The Unscented Kalman Filter is chosen to capture the states and estimate the parameters of a salient pole synchronous machine while it is online. The chosen algorithm is tested, tuned, and verified against a simulated generator in MATLAB in both steady state and transient conditions in a two-step process. Online steady state parameter tests were also conducted on a 20hp generator and compared to the results of IEEE 15 tests conducted on the machine.