Phasor Measurement Unit

Technology and its

Applications
1. Introduction
The electrical power system is a very large and complex system that consist of interconnected
electrical components mainly, the generation system, transmission lines network, the distribution
network down to the load centers. This system may have some problems like blackout and
outage. In order to elevate the standards of power system monitoring, control, and protection to a
new level, the synchronized phasor measurements is required [1]. At present PMU is the most
sophisticated time-synchronized tool available to power engineers and system operators for wide
area applications. It will improve visibility and provide real time monitoring, protection, and
control of the system. This tool has been made possible by advancements in computer
technology, and availability of GPS signals [2].
2. Working Principle of Phasor Measurement Unit
 a. Analog Input
The analog signals i.e. voltage and Current signal which are derived from potential and current
transformer secondarys are then fed to anti-aliasing filter for eliminating the error signals.
b. Anti-aliasing filter
According to the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem, for the reconstruction of signals after the
sampling, the frequency of sampling must be greater than twice the maximum frequency of
signal to be sampled. If sampling rate is less than twice the maximum frequency of signal to be
sampled then the information which may be obtained from the original signal could not be
completely recoverable from the sampled signal and they may appear as aliases.

c. Analog to Digital converters

The output from these filters is converted in to input of suitable range for analog to digital
converters. This output analog signals from anti-aliasing filter is digitalized at a sampling instant
defined by sampling time defined by phase lock oscillator. Then these digitalized sample from A
to D converter is fed to the phasor microprocessor. For three phase transmission system six
number of ADCs are employed.
d. Global positioning system (GPS receiver)
e. Phase locked-oscillator
In Phase lock oscillator, the input signal from the anti-aliasing filter is phase locked with the
signal which is coming from the GPS (i.e. one pulse per second). Phase lock oscillator divides
one pulse per second signals from GPS in to required number of pulse per second for sampling.

3. Advantages OF Using Phasor Measurement Unit

Some of the advantages of using PMU is depicted as follows.

a) Improved Real-Time monitoring and control of power system.
b) Power congestion management.
c) State estimation of the power system.
d) Post disturbance analysis of the power system.
e) Overload monitoring and dynamic rating.
f) Restoration of power system.
g) Protection and control application of Distributed Generation.

4. Application of phasor measurement unit.

a) Power system protection

PMU enable the detection of abnormal condition or fault in the power system and allowing it
quick isolation of a faulted segment and preventing the power outages and blackouts
b) State Estimation
In case of traditional state estimation, the state of the system was introduced from
unsynchronized power flow measurement i.e. measurement of real and reactive power were used
for the estimation of voltage magnitude and phase angle at all the buses in the power system.
PMU uses the various measurement which is received from different substation (i.e. voltage and
current magnitude and their phase angle, active and reactive power etc.) for the calculation of
state of power system with the help of various iterative nonlinear
estimation procedure.
c) Power system control
With the help of the synchronized measurement which is obtained by the phasor measurement
unit it is possible for direct feedback of system parameter from remote location to the controllers.
So the addition of PMU controller to the local controller will increase the overall strength of the
power system.
d) Application of PMU for detection of fault in the power system
Fault causes unbalance in the power system. So the fault location techniques are used in the
power system for accurate pinpointing of fault location in order to allow fast repair to restore
service to the consumer of electricity

[1 Reynaldo F. Nuqui, Member, IEEE, and Arun G. Phadke, Life Fellow, IEEE, "Phasor
] Measurement Unit Placement Techniques for complete and incomplete
observability," IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, , vol. NO. 4 , OCTOBER
2005.

[2 M. N. Ms. Darsan, M. Mr. Rishi and J. Mr. Aby , "Study and Simulation of Phasor
] Measurement Unit for Wide Area Measurement System".