Measurements on electric power systems: are we prisoners of tradition?

Despite the huge development the electric power systems underwent during the last century, their fundamentals have remained stable for over 70 years, since the mathematics of the sinusoidal AC systems have been defined at the beginning of the last century. The measuring equipment and the measurement methods have also remained almost unchanged for decades. This has probably led engineers and practitioners of power systems think that the presently used devices can still be used, with a few additional functions, to monitor and control the electric grid also in the new smart grid scenario. This paper is aimed at proving that the presently employed measuring devices are not adequate to this goal, and both the equipment and the mentality of power system people need a thorough revision.

I. Introduction

It is well known that Watt's invention of the steam operated machine originated the 19^th century industrial revolution. Similarly, the work of Antonio Pacinotti and Galileo Ferraris originated the 20^th century electrical revolution, since they proved that the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy, and viceversa, was possible.