A new algorithm for improving the accuracy of periodic signal analysis

Abstract

Digital periodic signal analysis often requires synchronized sampling with the signal being analyzed. In certain practical situations, however, this condition is difficult to satisfy. As a result, a number of undesirable effect such as the spectral leakage associated with the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and the truncation errors in digital wattmeters arise and degrade system performance. This paper presents a new approach which attempts to remedy the underlying problem. The basic idea of the proposed method is to modify the actual sampled sequence such that it becomes an ideal sample sequence which is synchronized with the signal subjected to sampling. A simple algorithm for modifying the sampled sequence on-line is derived based on interpolation. The proposed approach requires quite modest additional computational burden which makes it suitable for real-time signal professing. To illustrate the practical applicability of the proposed algorithm, the paper considers two distinct but common cases. First, it shows how the proposed method can be used in the case of DFT analysis of harmonic signals, and secondly, it considers the digital wattmeter application area in electrical power-system measurement. Results show that the proposed algorithm is capable of reducing both the leakage effect in DFT analysis and truncation errors in digital wattmeters.