Development and Experimental Validation of a Super-Synchronized Phasor Measurement Unit

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are leading the way towards advanced monitoring, control and protection applications in power systems. In order to work properly, they rely on a precise time synchronization architecture. Currently, the synchronization accuracy achieved is in the order of one microsecond.The utilization of PMUs in medium and low voltage systems requires nano-second scale time synchronization accuracy, due to the lower active power flows and thus to the lower phase angle differences between two buses of a power system.To face this issue, this paper advocates the role of supersynchronized PMUs that are based on a novel time and frequency transfer algorithm developed by Thales Alenia Space (Synchronet). As demonstrated by experimental activities developed on a real case study, the adoption of this new paradigm allows PMUs to reach nano-second scale synchronization accuracy, hence representing an effective solution for time-synchronization in modern smart grids.