Phasor measurement units: Functionality and applications

Operating of electric power systems is becoming more and more complex and is posing more and more challenges every day as they are operated close to their stability limits. Electrical power systems are expending (renewable energy source RES, distributed generation DG, independent power producers IPPs, etc. which are often no dispatchable or controllable generation) while the energy market (generation, distribution, transmission) is deregulated. In addition, regulatory pressure tends to focus power system operators attention to grown the Return of Investment of their assets while power consumption is increasing and power system infrastructures are aging. On the other hand, the demand for higher reliability and power quality is increasing as power electronics driven sensitive loads are added by the industrial consumers. Power electronic converters can be found wherever there is a need to modify the electrical energy form (i.e modify its voltage, current or frequency).