1

Introduction to Phasor
Measurements Units (PMUs)

Wei-Jen Lee, Ph.D., PE

Director and Professor
Energy Systems Research Center
University of Texas at Arlington

November 16, 2012

 2

Introduction
• Classical Definition of a Phasor
▫ A pure sinusoidal waveform can be represented by
a unique complex number known as a ‘phasor’.
 A sinusoidal signal

 The phasor representation of this sinusoid is given

by
 3

Introduction
• Classical Definition of a Phasor
▫ The RMS cosine-reference voltage and current
phasors are.
j v
V | V | e | V |  v
j i
I | I | e | I |  i
 4

Introduction
• Classical Definition of a Phasor

(a) Sinusoidal signal (b) Phasor representation

 5

Introduction
• Classical Definition of a Phasor
▫ If the sinusoid is not a pure sine wave, the phasor
is assumed to represent its fundamental frequency
component.
▫ The most commonly used method of calculating
phasors from sampled data is that of Discrete
Fourier Transform (DFT).
 6

Introduction
• Important of the Phasor Measurement

E T 1 * ET 2
P sin 
XL
 7

Introduction
• Important of the Phasor Measurement
 8

Introduction
• Modern EMS systems started from 1965
▫ Data refresh rate is around 2 to 5 seconds
▫ Measurement signals are not synchronized
▫ People relies upon power flow and state estimation to
estimate the angles among buses.
▫ It is an offline estimation and the results are not
reliable.
 9

Introduction
• Modern phasor measurement systems can trace origin
to the development of the Symmetrical Component
Distance Relay (SCDR) in the early 1970s.
• In early 1980s, measurement system started using
GPS to synchronize the sampling clocks, which
offering a common reference.
• The first experimental PMUs were developed at
Virginia Tech in 1988, and Macrodyne built the first
PMU in 1992.
 10

Introduction
• The modern PMUs use one pulse per second signals
provided by the GPS satellite receivers.
▫ The accuracy of the GPS timing pulse is better than 1
µs.
▫ For a 60 Hz system corresponds to about 0.02 degrees.
▫ Current PMU records data at the rate of 30 samples per
second (This number can be adjusted).
 11

Introduction
• Functional block diagram of the elements in a PMU.
 12

PMU and Smart Grid Development

• The electrical power system is one of the most
sophisticated man-made infrastructures.
• While the power system is a technological marvel, it
is also reaching the limit of its ability to meet the
nation's electricity needs.
• The modernization of the electricity infrastructure
leads to the concept of smart grid.
• The smart grid as defined here is based upon the
description found in the Energy Independence and
Security Act 2007.
 13

PMU and Smart Grid Development

• The term “Smart Gird” refers to a modernization of
the electricity delivery system so that it monitors,
protect, and automatically optimizes the operation of
its interconnected elements.
• In general, a comprehensive smart grid design should
take holistic approaches and cover both top-down and
bottom-up approaches.
• Many smart grid related activities have been carried
out all over the world.
 14

Desired Features of Smart Grid

• Advanced monitoring, control, and demand
management.
• Advanced components & operating concepts.
• Robust modeling & simulation tools.
• Seamless interconnection of low environmental impact
new generation technologies.
• Standardized architecture & secure communication
standards.
 15

Potential Areas of Smart Grid

Development and Applications
 16

PMU for Wide Area Monitoring and

Control
• Deployment of Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU)
▫ In 2007, the organization of U.S Department of Energy
(DOE) and the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation (NERC), along with involved electric utility
companies and other organizations, formed the North
American SynchroPhasor Initiative (NASPI)
▫ With funding from The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009, several smart investment grant
and demonstration projects have been awarded to advance
the synchrophsor technology.
 17

PMU for Wide Area Monitoring and

Control
• Deployment of Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU)
 18

PMU for Wide Area Monitoring and

Control
• Potential PMU Applications
• Wide-Area Visualization and Monitoring;
• Angle and Frequency Monitoring;
• Interarea Oscillation Detection & Analysis;
• Proximity to Voltage Collapse;
• State Estimation;
• Fast Frequency Regulation;
• Transmission Fault Location Estimation;
• Dynamic Model Validation.
 19

PMU for Wide Area Monitoring and

Control
• Though the above applications are from the view of
ISO, the PMUs-based applications also benefit
generator owners and other market participants.
• PMUs are able to continuously record several
different signals which are the requirements of
ancillary services like spinning reserve, frequency
control and voltage control.
• Once the infrastructure is permanently installed at the
power plant, the online tests such as voltage step-
change can be easily applied and recorded.
 20

Sample PMU Applications

• PMU applications in CAISO: Wide area
visualization and monitoring

Source: EPG
 21

Sample PMU Applications

• Recording of Actual Event
 22

Sample PMU Applications

• Comparison between Actual response and Simulation
Results

WSCC (WECC) System Blackout on August 10, 1996

 23

Sample PMU Applications

• State Estimation
▫ State estimation techniques were developed in 1970s
 Obtain an approximation to averaged system state from scanned data
(seconds to minutes)
 It is referred as “Static State Estimates”.
▫ PMUs enable synchronized phasor measurement bus
voltages & currents.
 Make significant improvement on state estimation or state
measurement applications
 Install PMU in the system could be a smart move to improve the
accuracy and efficiency of state estimation.
 24

Sample PMU Applications

• PMU Based On-Line generator parameter
identification system.
PMU Phasor Data
Concentrator

PMU Ethernet
hp Workstation i2000
.....

GPS
Communication Standards
PMU Applications IEEE C37.118.2
IEC 61850-90-5
ICCP
hp Workstation i2000

EMS
Database
 25

Sample PMU Applications

• PMU Based On-Line generator response and
parameter identification system.

Original System Reduced System

 26

Sample PMU Applications

• PMU Based On-Line generator response and
parameter identification system.
• The Reliability Standards relate to generator model
verification are:
• MOD-026-1 — Verification of Models and Data for Generator
Excitation System Functions
• MOD-027-1 — Verification of Generator Unit Frequency Response
• Once these Reliability Standards are approved, the standards
become mandatory and enforceable requirements
 27

Sample PMU Applications

• Fault Location in the Transmission Network.
 28

Relevant PMU Standards

• C37.111-1999
▫ A general transient data recording file format standard
• C37.118.1-2011
▫ Covers synchrophasor measurements for power systems
▫ Adds frequency & rate of change of frequency (ROCOF)
and dynamic operation
• C37.118.2-2011
▫ Defines real-time synchronized phasor measurement data
exchange method
 29

Conclusion and Discussion

• PMU is a matured technology.
• In addition to the original intended applications on
“Phasor Measurement”, PMUs offer attractive
options for improving protection and control actions
on modern power systems.
• Future power systems will have to face more stressful
regimes; improved protection and control offered by
the wide area measurement systems based on PMUs
will become even more important.
30