NI Introduces Grid Synchronous Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) for Next Generation Smart Grid Automation System

     National Instruments, a provider of solutions for engineers and scientists addressing the world's toughest engineering challenges, today announced the launch of a new phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) hardware platform for NI grid automation systems. Operators can use this technology to gain insight into the health of the grid in order to develop customized measurement solutions to meet changing needs.

     The grid automation system is based on CompactRIO embedded control and acquisition system. The processing unit runs the highly deterministic Linux Real-Time operating system and meets custom requirements through a fully programmable software application layer utilizing commercially available off-the-shelf hardware. The new system uses PMU technology that complies with ANSI standard C37.118.1a-2014 and can be run directly or customized as an open LabVIEW project.

     As grid operators face challenges such as renewable generation, energy storage, plug-in electric vehicles, interconnection and increasing demand for electricity, companies are looking for solutions to simplify substation automation while improving visibility into measurement results. Therefore, PMU technology has become a mainstream tool for power system applications. However, such control platforms require manual measurements by engineers and are often highly dependent on the equipment provider. NI's open PMU technology resources are valuable to enterprises by helping them quickly develop platforms while still giving them the freedom to design hardware and software and define specifications.

     The UK National Grid has designed a harmonic measurement system based on CompactRIO. The company uses this technology to measure, capture and analyze power quality across the UK's transmission network.

     "We don't know what the future will bring," said Peter Haigh, senior power systems engineer at National Grid. "However, with NI's CompactRIO platform solution, we are able to customize the development of the system to meet current requirements and future requirements that are unknown."