Measurement of Power Frequency Fluctuations Using the FFT

A new method for detecting fluctuations in the fundamental frequency component of a power system, by relating it to a leakage coefficient in the FFT, is presented. The phenomenon of leakage in the FFT is used advantageously to increase spectral resolution. The leakage coefficient is a quantitative measure of the deviation from the fundamental frequency component with respect to the sampling frequency. Theoretical aspects are considered along with a method for on-line implementation.