SPIDER: A GSM/GPRS based interconnected Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) system for prevention of communication failures

Continuous and efficient operation of a power system has become an issue of paramount importance in modern society. As such the Synchrophasor technology employing the Phasor Measurement Units (PMU) has emerged as a prime candidate for ensuring the goal of monitoring and controlling a power system in real time, which in effect ensures minimization of power system failures. But the existing network configuration which connects different PMUs to PDC (Phasor Data Concentrators) is prone to failure in the event of damage to the dedicated communication path between PMU and PDC. The system proposed in this paper aims to use GSM/GPRS (Global System for Mobile) communication between PMUs to establish alternate pathways of communication to ensure smooth operation until the original communication pathway is established. As a by-product it can also be used for dedicated monitoring of an individual PMU using a ‘Smart Phone’. This paper proposes a hybrid communication topology which can improve the reliability of PMU based monitoring system.