A Versatile Low-Cost OS-based Phasor Measurement Unit

Next generation of distribution grids will be equipped with automatic control functionalities that require an advanced knowledge of the system state. In this context, PMUs are one of the enabling technologies to support a smart development of such functionalities, but at the same time an economical burden for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). In this paper, we present the novel architecture of highly reconfigurable low-cost PMUs able to adapt to the future monitoring needs. Leveraging on the extremely high performance and low cost of Single Board Computers (SBC), we describe a measuring approach in which the hardware is reduced to the bare essentials, cutting costs and limitations, while moving the complexity on the software side. The core of the new PMU is the OS-based working mode, which enables an easy and rapid development of new algorithms and the automatic deployment of updated services based on package repositories. Besides providing a TVE performance compliant with the IEEE Std C37.118.1, the proposed device also opens the way to new technologies, like CPU-based parallel data elaboration and fog computing in distributed measurement.