PMU TECHNOLOGY

A phasor is a complex number that represents both the magnitude and phase
angle of the sine waves found in AC system as shown in figure 1.1.
Fig.1.1: Phasor representing magnitude & phase angle of sine wave of voltage or current.
Phasor measurements that occur at the same time are called synchrophasors
and can be measured precisely by the Phasor measurement units !P"#s$. P"#
measurements are ta%en at high speed typically &' or '( samples per second )
compared to one every * to 1( seconds using conventional technology. +ach
measurement is time,stamped according to a common time reference. -ime
stamping allows phasors at different locations to be time,aligned !or
synchroni.ed$thus providing a comprehensive view of the entire grid at central
location.
A typical P"# installation as a part of wide area monitoring system !/A"0$
networ% consists of phasor measurement units !P"#s$ dispersedly placed
throughout the electricity grid at strategic locations in order to cover the diverse
footprint of the grid.
A Phasor 1ata Concentrator !P1C$ at central location collects the information
from P"#s and provides alert and alarm for emergency situations as well as
facilitates development of different types of analytics for smooth operation of grid
on real time basis. -he P"# data is also transmit to 0upervisory Control and
1ata Ac2uisition!0CA1A$ system after time aligning the same. -he /A"0
technology re2uires high bandwidth communication networ% for rapid data
transfer matching the fre2uency of sampling of the P"# data.
Phasor "easurement 3n 3ndia ,Phasor "easurement Practice in 3ndia
4ational and 5egional 6oad 1espatch Centres in 3ndia are being operated by
Power 0ystems 7peration Corporation!P707C7$8 a wholly owned subsidiary of
P7/+595318 whereas 0tate 6oad 1espatch Centres are operated by
respective 0tate utilities. -hey are e2uipped with 0tate,of,the,Art 0CA1A:+"0
system. -elemetry from different sub,stations and power plants are being
received at each 061C:561C and subse2uently to 461C which are being
utili.ed in day to day operations of the regional grid.
0ynchronous 3nterconnection of regional grids forming large interconnected
system!for example formation of 4+/ grid $ and various changes undergoing in
the 3ndian power industry re2uires better situational awareness of the grid event
and visuali.ation at the control center for real time system operation. ;nowledge
about the angular separation between different nodes of a power system has
always been of great interest for power system operators. Phase angle
measurement is commonly used in auto synchroni.ation of generating stations
and chec% synchroni.ation relays used at substations for closing of lines as well
as during three,phase auto,reclosing. All these applications are at the local level.
Prior to the introduction of Phasor "easurement #nits !P"#s$ at control centre
level this analogue value is normally not considered as measurable in 0CA1A
system and hence does not form a part of the 0CA1A measurement. <owever
0CA1A technology does provide an estimate of the relative phase angle
difference !with respect to a reference bus$ through the 0tate +stimator. -he
0tate estimator uses the 0CA1A inputs !analogue and digital measurands$ to
estimate the system state vi.. node voltage and angle. 3nformation about phase
angle difference between two different nodes in a power system has also been
calculated based on the real time power flow between the nodes8 bus voltages
and networ% reactance using standard e2uation = > sin,1!P?@:A1?A&$. Angular
information at control centre is also obtained by placing phase angle transducer
at strategic locations and interfacing it in existing 0CA1A system .
<owever all the above methods of calculation of phase angle difference have
limitations due to resolution8 data latency8 up dation time and data s%ewedness.
#pdate time in the 0CA1A system is considerably large !up to 1(,1' seconds$
for visuali.ing and controlling the dynamics of power system. -he real time
angular measurement in the power system avoids above uncertainties and can
be relied onto assess the transmission capability in real time which is very crucial
in efficiently operating the present electricity mar%et mechanism.
P"#s are able to measure what was once immeasurable: phase difference at
different substations.