Experimental real-time testing of a decentralized PMU data-based power systems mode estimator

This paper presents the results and testing of a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) data-based mode estimation application deployed within a decentralized architecture using a real-time test platform. This work is a continuation of that in [1], which described a decentralized mode estimation architecture that enables the application to better detect local modes whose observability is affected by other more observable modes. The tests in this paper were carried out using an active distribution network (ADN) comprised of a high voltage network connected to a distribution grid including renewable energy resources (RES). The developed application was run in a decentralized architecture where each PMU was associated with its own processing unit which was running the application to estimate modes from the time-series data. The results of the decentralized mode estimation architecture are analyzed and compared with its centralized counterpart.