Symmetricom modified timing solution could eliminate fruitless process

Symmetricom has announced the availability of its updated XLi Time and Frequency System, which the company enhanced in support of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Time Error Correction Field Trial.  Power utilities participating in the trial can purchase new or update their existing XLi with the Frequency Time Deviation Monitor (FTM) module to accurately report up to five major digits of accumulated error. The update supports the larger accumulated time error that will result from the trial.

Automatic Generator Control is a complicated process that elimination of time error corrections (TEC) helps simplify and makes potentially more reliable. 

"The updated XLi ensures that the time error can be monitored throughout the experiment and thereafter, if successful, the aid the AGC process and report results to NERC," Ron Holm, Product Marketing Manager, Symmetricom, told FierceEnergy.

The updated Symmetricom XLi can measure the full range of time deviation errors that could result from the NERC experiment to discontinue TECs. 

"The technology extends the XLi functionality that measures the time error resulting from frequency deviations of the 60 Hz power grid frequency.  Utilities with the extended XLi time error measurements are able to report results through the experiment to NERC," said Holm. "Utilities can benefit by eliminating a process that may provide little benefit.  The overhead, fuel costs and associated costs can be saved if this experiment is successful."

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