Distributed Grid Analytics Platform (DGAP) for power grid monitoring at the distribution level

Li, Yuqi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/78524 Copy

Description

Title

Distributed Grid Analytics Platform (DGAP) for power grid monitoring at the distribution level

Author(s)

Li, Yuqi

Issue Date

2015-04-30

Department of Study

Electrical & Computer Eng

Discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Phasor Measurement Units (PMU)
• Distributed Grid Analytics Platform (DGAP)
• Power system measurement

Abstract

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) which measure electrical waves with real-time synchronization at widely spread points across the power grid over great benefits. While the PMU device concept is well known in the power industry, the field of power system analysis stands to benefit greatly from using different methods of designing and implementing an inexpensive PMU that can be widely and densely distributed on the grid. Traditional PMUs are mainly installed at the transmission level, where they are hard to install and maintain, and can be expensive due to the rating requirements of the components. Given their benefits and increasingly widespread installation, easier-to-maintain and less costly PMUs are desired. In 2000, frequency disturbance recorders (FDRs), which are single-phase PMUs that monitor the power grid at the 120 V distribution level, were operated for the Frequency monitoring Network (FNET) project by Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee. While installing FDRs at the low-voltage distribution level of the power grid was a great step toward reducing the cost and limitations of PMU use, there are still drawbacks and significant room for improvement: the sampling frequency is low at 1440 samples per second (SPS), there is no auxiliary power supply to support the device during an atypical power grid event, and the USD 2000 price can be driven lower. This thesis introduces the Distributed Grid Analytics Platform (DGAP) which has a higher sampling rate (20k SPS), a backup power supply, smaller size, and much lower cost (USD 200) while keeping the functionality of the FDRs including accurate data acquisition, GPS time synchronization, internet connectivity, and open source data upload. The improvements were realized by a more succinct approach for the system design and more updated component selection, which will be explained in this thesis. The designed DGAPs were built into prototypes and tested in household power outlets, experimentally validating their functionality.

Graduation Semester

2015-5

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78524

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2015 Yuqi Li

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