Applicability of synchronised measurements in modern distribution grids. A discussion

The need of using in the same application synchronized data received with high reporting rate (like those provided by Phasor Measurement Units, PMUs) and aggregated data from measurement equipment with a lower reporting rate (which are usually complying with power quality data aggregation standards) is raising the question of achieving compatible data for ultimately assessing relevant information on the energy transfer in distribution grids. Moreover, modern control algorithms need to process information acquired from distributed, synchronized measurement systems, and embedded in data streams with high degree of correlation. The control requirements represent a true challenge in case when multiple measurement approaches are used: on one side, the existing time-aggregation based measurements are offered by currently deployed IEDs (SCADA framework), including smart meters and other merging units while on the other side, the high-resolution waveform-based monitoring devices like PMUs with fault-recorder functionality are increasingly deployed in distribution systems as well. In this paper is introduced a methodology for deriving an equivalent “accuracy class” of the measurement channel where the individual measurement device has associated a defined measurement quality and embeds specified aggregation algorithms.