Frequency Monitoring Network FNET Consortium Membership Renewal
Operated by the Power Information Technology Laboratory the University of Tennessee, FNET is a low-cost, quickly deployable GPS-synchronized wide-area frequency measurement network. High dynamic accuracy Frequency Disturbance Recorders (FDRs) are used to measure the frequency, phase angle, and voltage of the power system at ordinary 120 V outlets. The measurement data are continuously transmitted via the Internet to the FNET servers hosted at the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech. The Power IT Lab has developed several applications which use the FNET data to study the power system, including:
Event detection and location
Oscillation detection
Animations of frequency and angle perturbations
Integration of renewables into the power grid
Detection of system breakup or islanding
Prediction of grid instability and reduction of blackouts
Providing grid control input signals
The FNET Industry Consortium was formed to pool resources to support FNET operations and research. Among other benefits, Consortium member companies have access to automatic power grid event alert e-mails. This e-mail includes event size (MW) and location information whenever possible, as well as event data plots. Members also have access to the FNET event website, which documents the most recent major events.
The commission uses the data obtained from the Industry Consortium Membership to protect and improve the reliability of the Bulk Power System. The commission is seeking to renew its membership or obtain an equivalent method of obtaining the data and analysis it currently receives from FNET.
Ryan I Kirkwood
Contract Specialist
202-502-6409
[email protected]
