Synchrophasor measurement applications and optimal PMU placement: A review

Abstract

In today's era, transition of the conventional power grid towards smart grid is taking place by Wide Area Measurement system's real time monitoring protection and control. Synchrophasor is the time synchronized phasor measurement, which is one of the basic requirements of smart grid. These measurements can be obtained with the help of rapid time-stamped devices known as phasor measurement units (PMUs). PMUs capture electric phasor with high accuracy and precision by the virtue of time stamping provided by global positioning system (GPS) at coordinated universal time (UTC). Fast responsiveness of this device has led the researchers to examine various challenges associated with its application. This paper gives an extensive review of synchrophasor technology, principle and operation, optimal placement techniques, and its applications in the present system.