Synchro-Waveforms: A Window to the Future of Power Systems Data Analytics

Waveforms are the most granular and authentic representation of voltage and current in power systems. With the latest advancements in power system measurement technologies, it is now possible to obtain time-synchronized waveform measurements, i.e., synchro-waveforms, from different locations of a power system. The measurement technology to obtain synchro-waveforms is referred to as a waveform measurement unit (WMU). WMUs can capture the most inconspicuous disturbances that are overlooked by other types of time-synchronized sensors, such as phasor measurement units (PMUs). WMUs also monitor system dynamics at much higher frequencies as well as much lower frequencies than the fundamental components of voltage and current that are commonly monitored by PMUs. Thus, synchro-waveforms introduce a new frontier to advance power system and equipment monitoring and control, with direct applications in situational awareness, system dynamics tracking, incipient fault detection and identification, condition monitoring, and so on. They also play a critical role in monitoring inverter-based resources (IBR) due to the high-frequency switching characteristics of IBRs.