Enhancement of network monitoring and security analysis using phasor measurement units

Abstract

Synchronized phasor measurements are becoming an important element of wide area measurement systems used in advanced power system monitoring, protection, and control applications. Considering the current power outages in Ghana, the electric utility power system may have major blackouts or natural catastrophes. It is therefore possible to lose data from the network due to failure of communication systems during these incidents. Hence, this study explored how network monitoring and security analysis could be enhanced using phasor measurement units (PMUs). In all, 160 respondents including system operators, system engineers and system controllers participated in the study. Quantitative data analysis was performed using the Statistical Products and Service Solutions (SPSS), version 18, while thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative data obtained from the open-ended questions in the structured questionnaire and the interview data. The use of SCADA to monitor traffic in GRDICo has not been highly effective as the occurrences, disturbances and disruptions in traffic in the network are frequent. Additionally, the study concluded that, there are significant challenges that confront network monitoring and security analysis of grid in GRIDCo including real time monitoring and control, post power disturbance analysis and power systems state estimation. It is recommended that,the enhancement of network monitoring and security analysis of grid in GRIDCo using PMU could result in the unique ability to provide synchronized power system phasor measurements from widely dispersed locations in the electric power grid. Secondly, sufficient funds should be made available by government through the Ministry of Energy to help GRIDCo experience significant investment in the deployment of phasor measurement units (PMUs) and the associated infrastructure for making synchrophasor measurements and data collection