While the generation mechanisms of high-frequency oscillations caused by voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) systems have been widely investigated, their propagation paths and spatial influence within the power grid remain largely unexplored. To address this critical gap, this paper proposes a novel oscillation propagation analysis method based on branch high-frequency active power distribution. First, from the perspective of equivalent impedance, the mechanism of high-frequency oscillation caused by the VSC-HVDC system in a single-machine system is elaborated. Then, mathematical modeling and theoretical derivations reveal that synchronous generators primarily act as passive impedances at high frequencies and that transmission lines significantly distort high-frequency voltage and current amplitudes. Crucially, high-frequency active power remains inherently stable and immune to these line distortion effects. Building upon these characteristics, an instantaneous power calculation method using broadband measurement data is derived to trace the propagation path. Comprehensive case studies using a 4-machine 2-area system and the New England 10-machine 39-bus system demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately map actual physical propagation paths, evaluate an oscillation’s influence range, and reliably locate a high-frequency oscillation’s source.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.