IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 13, No.

1, January 1998 73

IEEE STANDARD FOR SYNCHROPHASORS FOR POWER SYSTEME

Prepared by Working Group H-8
of the Relay Communications Subcommittee
of the IEEE Power System Relaying Committee

Working group members are:

K. E. Martin, Chairman, G. Benmouyal, Vice Chairman, M. G. Adamiak, M. Begovic, R.. 0. Bumett, Jr.,
K. R. Carr, A. Cobb, J. A. Kusters, S. H. Horowitz, G. R. Jensen, G. L. Michel, R. .I. Murphy,
A. G. Phadke, M. S. Sachdev, J. S. Thorp.

Abstract: IEEE Standard 1344, Synchrophasors for Power source. The standard describes the measurements in relation
Systems, was completed in 1995. It sets parameters required to to a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU). It addresses
ensure that phasor measurement will be made and communicated in synchronization of data sampling, data-to-phasor
a consistent manner. It specifies requirements for the timing signal conversions, and formats for timing input and phasor data
used for phasor synchronizationand the time code needed for input
to a measurement unit. GPS is the recommended time source and time, accuracy, hardware, software, or a phasor computation
IRIG-B is the basic format used for time communication. The process.
standard requires correlating phasors computed from
unsynchronized and synchronized sampling to a common basis.
Timetagging accurately and consistently is essential for wide area
comparison of phase. The standard specifies information exchange
Y
I GPS R y e i v e r I
and control message formats. These include data output,
configuration, and command messages. It includes 7 annexes that Time & Sync
discuss the concepts covered in the body of the standard.
Phasor Measurement
Keywords: Synchrophasor, Synchronized phasor, Phasor

OVERVIEW
IEEE 1344-1995 is a standard for synchronized phasor
measurements in substations. A phasor is a vector
representation of the magnitude and phase angle of an AC
waveform. Phase angle between sites can be determined
when the measurements are synchronized to a common time
PE-068-PWRD-1-03-1997 A paper recommended and approved by
the IEEE Power System Relaying Committee of the IEEE Power
Engineering Society for publication in the IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery. Manuscript submitted February 7, 1997; made available for
printing March 26, 1997.
Data Output
Figure 1. PMU functional block diagram.
The purpose for the standard is to define synchronized
phasor measurements in substations so that measurement
equipment can be readily interfaced with other systems.
Power system measurements are steadily migrating from
analog to digital systems. Low cost, high-power
microprocessors allow construction of measurement units
that can digitize AC power waveforms and compute phasors
in real time. Wide area phase comparisons can be made from
this phasor data through the use of high precision time
dissemination that is now readily available. As a result,
phasor measurements are being explored using a variety of
hardware and software approaches. This standard specifies
data formats and synchronization requirements to allow
correlating phasors from various sources imd comparing them
with similar data from different measurement systems. It has
sections that address synchronizing signals, time input
format, synchronization of the phasor measurement process,
and data output formats. Details are discussed in the seven
annexes.

0885-8977/98/$10.00 0 1997 IEEE

14
SYNCHRONIZATION AND TIME
A phasor represents both the magnitude and phase angle of
the AC power signal. Phase angle is measured in reference to
the time of measurement. Comparison of phasors measured
throughout an interconnected grid requires a common timing
reference provided by a synchronizing source. The
synchronizing source may be local or global as long as it
supplies all sites included in the region of comparison.
The Global Position System (GPS) provides time
synchronization that satisfies these requirements. GPS is a
US Department of Defense radio-navigation system
consisting of 24 satellites arrayed to provide at least 4
satellite visibility at all times, Each satellite transmits a
navigation signal from which a receiver can decode time
synchronized to within 0.2 ps of Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC), the world standard. The inherent availability,
redundancy, reliability, and accuracy make it a system well
suited for synchronized phasor measurement systems.
GPS is currently the only regional synchronizing signal
source that is accurate enough for phasor measurement. The
standard time broadcast systems do not have sufficient
accuracy. Radio broadcasts, two way radio transfer, fiber
optic, UHF, or microwave systems could be used for
localized systems but require development of specialized
interfaces to deal with signal delays. These other alternatives
are costly and are not currently competitive with GPS
receivers.
IEEE 1344 requires the synchronizing source to be
referenced to within 1 ps of UTC. This will ensure the
greatest compatibility among PMUs. The standard also
requires the reliability to exceed 99.87% (one hour of outage
per month). 1 ps accuracy is achievable from GPS and meets
the requirements of all foreseeable data needs. It corresponds
to an angular accuracy of 0.022 degree for a 60 Hz system
and 0.018 degree for a 50 Hz system which allows an error
budget for most applications which require angle accuracy of
0.1 degree or less.
Time input
The standard specifies that time should be provided
referenced to UTC and as an IRIG-B code (Inter-Range
Instrumentation Group time code) or using a new high
precision format. If time is provided as modulated IRIG-B
an additional 1 pulse-per-second (PPS) is required for 1 ps
synchronization. The control bits are used to enhance
standard IRIG-B with year, time zone, and other special
flags. Control bit designations and the high precision format
are described in detail in Annex F of the standard.
After an extensive investigation of other alternatives, IRIG-
B was chosen as the basic format. It is the most common
form of time synchronization in sub-station equipment, and
no other standardized codes provide all that it lacks.
Standard IRIG codes have no provision for leap seconds, leap
years, local time offsets, daylight savings time, year number,
or time quality factors. They do have a number of spare bits
that can be used to present the missing information. Given
the wide use of IFUG-B and its flexibility of implementation
through the availability of spare bit positions, the only good
choice was to use this as the base of transmitting an accurate
time reference. IRIG-B is normally transmitted either as a
100 Hz level shift, or used to modulate a 1 kHz AM carrier.
Neither of these are suitable for timing needs that approach 1
microsecond. As a result, a modified Manchester coding
scheme was chosen. The coding scheme is easily
transmitted by fiber-optic, has defined coding edges to reach
sub microsecond timing precision, and can be easily
implemented with existing electronic devices.
PHASOR MEASUREMENT CONVENTIONS
Data sampling
The sample taken on the 1 second mark is sample number
zero (0). Using the convention that the signal
v(t) = JZ v cos (mot + cp)
corresponds to the phasor V eh,the phasor computed from a
window beginning at a positive voltage maximum is real
while one computed from a window beginning at a positive
going voltage zero is negative imaginary as shown in figure
2.
I Sample NO. o I Sample NO. o

-
Figure 2 Convention for phasor representation
If the 1 PPS signal occurs at time to, the measured phasor
corresponding to a signal v(t) = JZ V cos (coot + 9) with a
frequency coo is V rdOoto+ 9). For steady state signals at
off-nominal frequency o 1, the measured phasor with time-
tag corresponding to the 1 PPS instant to is V d o l t o + q).
The behavior of the measured phasor between the 1 PPS
points and the response to non-steady-state (transient)
conditions will vary with the algorithms used, and is
discussed in annex C of the standard.
Time-tags
Phasor timetags consist of a four (4) byte second-of-
century (SOC) word in Network Time Protocol (NTP) format
and a two (2) byte sample count (SMPCNT) integer. This
second-of-century number is the UTC time in seconds
figured from midnight of January 1, 1900. NTP can be
determined by multiplying the number of seconds per day by
the days since 1/1/1900. Leap seconds do not alter the scale;
a leap second insertion results in two consecutive seconds
having the same SOC number. The sample number is the
two byte integer between 0 and N-1 where N is the sample
rate. In systems where phasors are derived from
synchronized samples, this is the sample number of the
sample in the data window used in the phasor calculation.
This is independent of the length of the data window used in
the phasor calculation.
Phasor Calculation
If synchronized phasors are calculated from synchronized
data samples, the data sampling is required to be
synchronized to within 1 ps of UTC time. Data sampling is
required to be phase locked to GPS with an integer number of
samples each second that are evenly spaced throughout the
one second interval. The samples are required to be
numbered from 0 to N-1 where N is the sample rate. Sample
0 is the first sample in the new second coincides with the one
second roll-over. It is recommended that the sample rate be
chosen from the list of Least Common Multiple sample
frequencies as defined in IEEE Standard C37.111-1991
(COMTRADE).
The standard also allows for synchronized phasors
calculated from non-synchronized data samples with the
provision that the calculating process is required to determine
an equivalent UTC time and sample number as described for
synchronized sampling techniques. The phasor thus
determined is required to have the same magnitude and phase
angle as a phasor derived from synchronized samples over
the same data window with the same time stamp and sample
number.
75
The choice of sampling frequency, the algorithms used for
phasor calculation, and the choice of the time-tag all affect
the apparent system responses represented by phasors.
Different choices of these parameters can yield somewhat
different phasor response characteristics during transient
conditions. Phasors produced by different systems can be
accurately compared only for steady state calculations.
Comparison for transient conditions requires a detailed
knowledge of these characteristicsand their consequences.
For example, figure 3 illustrates how the choice of timetag
affects the apparent phasor response. The illustration is a
balanced 3 phase system which undergo'es a -0.1 rad phase
angle step at P0.05 sec. In this example, a DFT transform
with a 12 sample data window and a 720 sample/second
sample rate was used. The three plots ishow the difference
induced by taking the phasor timetag from the data sample at
the beginning (front), the middle, or the end (back) of the
data window.
I
1.46 I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
.t++++x~r"m
I I
0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07
Time [sec]
Figure 3. Response of the positive sequence phasor to a step angle
change of -0.1 rad
Several observations may be made:
0 Using the timetag at the front of the window makes the
phasor appear to begin responding to the transient before it
occurs. It is, however, close to the true response when the
event is over.
0 The timetag at the middle of the data window yields a
response that is closest on an average to the true event, but
still starts to react before the event.
0 The timetag at the end of the windlow gives a response
that is most like other transducers in that it begins to respond
as soon as the event occurs and slews tlo the new value. It
takes the longest to reach the final value. This is the choice
specified in the standard.
0 There is an error due to length of time the phasor
responds to the input. This is similar to the frequency

76
response in an analog system, but is of a fixed length which
is a function of thedaia window. The length of the data
window can be altered to suit a particular application. A
shorter window yields a faster response in transient
conditions but higher noise and greater data handling
capability due to a higher data rate.
There is a transient error whose properties are
dependent upon the filtering algorithm used. This effect can
be minimized for a certain transient (or a class of transients),
but only at the expense of additional computational burden
and a poorer result for another class of transients.
The effects of harmonics, transducer non-linearities, and
other factors which may degrade the overall response are not
included in this example. Real-time delays relating to data
computation and transmissions are also not shown.
Generally, the variety of approaches to phasor calculation
will yield similar but different results during transient system
behavior. Any approach will have its strong and weak
points. The system designer will have to choose techniques
that best suit the range of applications of primary interest.
Data analysis will have to account for differences when
comparing phasors derived using different techniques.
DATA FORMATS
AND MESSAGES
The PMU described in the standard transmits three types of
information--data, configuration, and header. Data includes
status, phasor, and other computed information derived from
measurements. Configuration information is a machine
readable, binary file stored in the PMU and describes set-up
and operational parameters. Header information is an ASCII
file that provides user information that may include
configuration information. These three information types are
transmitted in frames that are described in detail in the
standard.
The general syntax of all message frames is as follows:
The fist 4 bytes of each frame are the SOC time mark. In
addition to providing the basic one second resolution timetag,
the 4 byte SOC can be used for frame synchronization. It is
followed by the two byte SMPCNT word which identifies the
frame type and gives the sample number (for data frames) or
the frame count. The sample number gives sub-second
timing information for data frames. The three most
significant bits of the SMPCNT word determine the frame
type. Only three of the eight possible frame types are defined
leaving room for future dermition. Every frame is terminated
by a two byte CRC word which allows positive error
detection.
The Data Frame is shown in figure 4. Each frame is a data
scan corresponding to the time-tag and sample number. The
data is in binary format with no delimiters. Information for
parsing and converting the information to engineering units is
~
* stored in the configuration file. The data frame contains
measured data and is identified by having the three most
significant bits of the SMPCNT (third word, 5th byte) equal
to zero. Following SMPCNT the status word (STAT)
includes flags for time, data, and trigger status in the high 5
bits and gives the byte count for the frame in the low 11 bits.
first
transmitted [socl /-xzEq
MSB 4 LSB 2
[sTAT]
2
WI last transmitted
2 < byteslword
Figure 4 - Data frame for phasor data
Following STAT, phasors are sent in two word (4 byte)
format. The words are real and imaginary values respectively
in 16 bit integer format (two’s complement) if the data is in
rectangular coordinates. If polar coordinates are used, the
phasors are magnitude in unsigned 16 bit integer and angle in
radians x in the range - 7 ~to + n, respectively. After the
last phasor, frequency deviation (FREQ) from nominal and
rate-of-change of frequency (DFREQ) are in 16 bit integer
format. Deviation is scaled in milliHertz (Hz x lom3)which
allows a range of -32 to +32 Hz from nominal, adequate for
all but the most severe disturbance. DFREQ is in Hz per
second x Digital channel data (DIG) is contained in 2
byte segments, one for each 16 bit channel. The cyclic
redundancy check word (CRC) is the last two bytes. The
CRC uses the CCITT specified error checking polynomial,
16+,12+,5+1.
In order to parse the data frame, a central system must
acquire the configuration file. There are two types of
configuration files: a system configuration file CFG-1, and a
data configuration file CFG-2. The system configuration file
indicates all inputs available on the PMU. The data
configuration file indicates the information actually being
sent, since only a subset of that available may be transmitted
by the PMU in the data frame. Configuration file
information kcludes:
(1) Station name and identification
(2) Number of phasors
(3) Number of digital channels
(4) Channel and phasor names, units, and
conversion factors
(5) Nominal line frequency
(6) Transmission period (data ;ate)
 77

The header file is an ASCII file containing PMU and input
parameters such as station, line, scaling, and filtering
information. It is meant to be human readable and does not
have a fixed format. The file is sent as requested in a framed
format described in the standard.
The header and configuration files may be transmitted
during real time data transmissions (if sufficient bandwidth
exists), so the information will be interleaved with data
frames. Since these files may be too large to send in one
block between data frames, they can are broken into multiple
frames for transmission.
The PMU may be setup and controlled from a host.
Commands are passed in received message frames. The
standard specifies a minimum command set, leaving most of
the message set for future expansion. Like the other frames,
this frame starts with the same synchronizing SOC timetag,
and ends with a CRC termination.
00402-8, U.S. Government Printing Ojffice, Washington,
D.C. 20402.
[3] IRIG Standard 200-89, Secretariat, Range
Commanders Council, White Sands Missile Range, New
Mexico 88002,1989.
[4] GPS Interface Control Document, IRN-200B-PR-
001, 1 July 1992.
[5] IEEE C37.111-1991, IEEE Standard Common
Format for Transient Data Exchange (COMTRADE) for
Power Systems, June 1991.
161 Network Time Protocol (Version 3) “Specification,
Implementation, and Analysis”, D. L. Mills, DARPA
Network Working Group, RFC- 13051, University of
Delaware, March, 1992.
[7] Power System Relaying Committee Working Group
H7, “Synchronized Sampling and Phasor Measurements for
Relaying and Control,” IEEE Trans. on I’D, Vol. 9, No. 1,
Jan. 1994.

ANNEXES

This Standard contains seven Annexes which provide

additional information to the concepts and practices
developed in the main body of the text. The first annex is a
bibliography. Three annexes discuss details of sampling
accuracies, the effects of various time tagging conventions,
and the merits of using non-synchronized sampling. Two
annexes discuss various systems for time synchronization and
provides details on the choice of time codes. Another annex
provides detailed examples of phasor data formats.

CONCLUSIONS

Phasor measurements add a new dimension to power

system monitoring and controls. They provide direct
measurement of the fundamental units of voltage and current
including both magnitude and phase angle. This compact
measurement set is easily communicated in real time which
enhances its utility for real time systems. It provides all the
fundamental power system measurements as well as system-
wide phase angles. State estimation, protective relaying, and
stability controls can be greatly improved with adaptive
techniques using phasor measurements. This standard
provides a framework for defining phasor measurements and
integrating them with other applications.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[11 “The Fast Fourier Transform”, E.O. Brigham,

Prentice Hall, Inc., New York, 1974, p105.
[Z] “1992 Federal Radionavigation Plan”, DoT-
VNTSC-RSPA-92-2/DoD-4650.5,Stack No. 008-047-