Testing and analysis of centralized and decentralized mode estimation architectures for active distribution network monitoring

This paper presents the results of testing a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) data-based mode estimation application deployed within a decentralized architecture using a real-time test platform. By extending the author's previous work in [1], this paper shows that a decentralized architecture is effective in detecting local modes which are less observable in presence of other dominant modes when estimated in a centralized architecture. The tests in this paper were carried out that was coupled with actual PMUs, a Phasor Data Concentrator (PDC) and two types of mode estimation architectures. The is network comprised of a high voltage network connected to an Active Distribution Network (ADN) with Renewable Energy Resources (RES). In the decentralized architecture where each PMU was associated with its own processing unit running to compute mode estimates from the acquired time-series data. The results of the decentralized mode estimation architecture are analyzed and compared with centralized architecture.