Smart meters for monitoring power quality in distribution grid

In this project, a system that is capable of performing real time and continuous power quality (PQ) monitoring in the distribution grid from a remote station was introduced. This system consists of smart meter which is developed to acquire grid parameters to calculate PQ parameters such as rms current and voltage, current and voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) values, active and apparent power, power factor and voltage unbalance. To perform monitoring functions, this system contains both a desktop graphical user interface (GUI) and a mobile application. A person in a remote monitoring station can observe above mentioned PQ parameters in the distribution grid. Operator can also observe PQ issues like under voltage, overvoltage, THD variations and percentage voltage unbalance variations. This system incorporates functions to observe past records of the PQ profile.

Raspberry Pi 3 microcontroller was used to perform calculations and the analog to digital conversion of data is done by Teensy 3.2. Transmission of data was performed by using cloud-based technology. Desktop GUI was developed by MATLAB and the mobile application is developed by using Android Studio. In order to calculate THD values, fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used. This system costs around Rs. 50000 and has the ability to perform real time PQ monitoring and to observe past records.

Project Contacts:

K.M.I.U. Ranaweera, iromi@eie.ruh.ac.lk, 0701606598