PHASOR MEASUREMENT UNIT (PMU)

A phasor measurement unit (PMU) is a device which measures the electrical waves on an electricity grid, using a common time source for synchronization. Time synchronization allows synchronized real-time measurements of multiple remote measurement points on the grid

PMU uses GPS signals for time synchronizing, after calculating voltage and current phasors, using DFT , PMU adds a time tag to the sampled data and synchronize with GPS signals. PMU can provide a timing accuracy of one micro second between the synchronizing pulses. PMU provides a wide range of applications in Power System Monitoring, Advanced Network Protection and also in Advanced Control Schemes.

Out of Step Protection using PMU and Equal Area Criterion

A SMIB system is simulated in Matlab/ Simulink using the Sim Powersystems tool box of Simulink.
A fault (3-ph to ground) condition is created in the system at the middle of one of the transmission lines. The fault operation time (top) is varied and the electrical power output of the machine (Pe) and the generator angle delta is determined from the PMU. A curve plotted between Pe and delta, known as Swing Curve is used to apply the Equal Area Criterion. The Areas A1 and A2 under the curve are determined for the above fault condition and hence the stability of the system is obtained. The condition for stability is thus obtained as the accelerating Area A1 is less than or equal to the decelerating Area A2.