Frequency-domain phase measurement algorithms for distribution systems

In the last years, waveform phasor measurements have become increasingly important for smart grid monitoring and control. While the Standard IEEE C37.118.1-2011 generally focuses on synchrophasor estimation accuracy expressed in terms of Total Vector Error (TVE), which comprises the joint effect of both angle and magnitude errors, the performances of phase measurement techniques alone are seldom analyzed. However, accurate phase data are expected to play a key role in future distribution systems (e.g., for state estimation). In this context, a thorough characterization of different algorithms for phase estimation only is of interest. In this paper, the performance of two frequency-domain algorithms, i.e. the basic DFT and the IpDP2FT phasor estimators, are analyzed from this perspective. Waveforms affected by various static or dynamic disturbances described in the Standards IEEE C37.118.1-2011 and EN 50160:2010 are considered.