Progresses in PMU testing and calibration

Phasor Measurement Units (PMU), based on the synchronized measurement technology, are basic building blocks of wide-area monitoring, protection and control (WAMPAC) systems. The overall system performance of such WAMPAC systems highly relies on the proper functioning of all PMUs of the system that conform to the same high performance standards. However, ensuring a uniform performance compliance of all PMUs of a large-scale WAMPAC system remains a major challenge today. Lack of performance requirement for synchrophasor measurement under non-steady-state system conditions, and no standardized test guidelines and procedures for verifying whether the phasor measurement of a PMU under steady-state system conditions conforms to the IEEE C37.118 standard are two major issues in the proper PMU testing and calibration. There is also a lack of specialized test equipment for performing such conformance testing efficiently. Recognizing the importance of PMU testing and calibration, progresses have been made in the US and Brazil through a number of ongoing activities for addressing these issues.