A Three-Level Distributed Architecture for the Real-Time Monitoring of Modern Power Systems (original) (raw)

On the Communication Architecture for Wide-Area Real-Time Monitoring in Power Networks

2007 40th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS'07), 2007

Reliable and efficient operation of power networks is of paramount importance. In this paper we explore communication architectures that leverage Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and fusion centers to enable robust real-time monitoring of power networks over wide areas. We examine scalability issues in data aggregation for a power network in which PMUs are attached to every bus. We argue that in power networks, the data recorded by the PMUs are spatially correlated and therefore the data admit a sparse representation in a given basis. Furthermore, the number of bits required to reconstruct the PMU data to within a given accuracy at a remote location grows sublinearly with the density of the power network. Our results are: i) the PMUs should not transmit their data to the fusion center independently or asynchronously-an intermediate data aggregation step is beneficial, and ii) if we perform data aggregation then we can add more PMUs to the network to achieve finer network monitoring without causing network congestion.

Intelligent monitoring of power networks – system architecture and communication network infrastructure

2013

The paper presents the system architecture and communication network infrastructure of the Intelligent Monitoring of POwer NETworks (IMPONET) project. The main objectives of the project were development of a communication platform for handling network devices with bidirectional communication and real-time management of the energy data together with new services to control the quality of electric signals. The IMPONET platform was validated through acquisition and processing of the energy-data experimental scenarios. The obtained results show that the proposed platform is capable of real-time data exchange and raw-energy data processing from multiple data concentrator devices and smart metering devices.

Experiences with and perspectives of the system for wide area monitoring of power systems

CIGRE/IEEE PES International Symposium, 2003

With the emphasis on higher utilization of power systems, monitoring of its dynamics is becoming increasingly important. This requires information with higher accuracy and update rates faster than those usually provided by traditional SCADA systems. In addition, it must be synchronized over a wider geographical area than that provided by traditional protection systems. The introduction of phasor measurement units as

Monitoring large-scale power distribution grids

Solid-State Electronics, 2019

Power grids are distributed over vast geographical areas and have sophisticated multilayered architecture. The structure of the grid distribution layer is often poorly documented and sometimes unknown, presenting additional challenges to the development of systems for automated monitoring of power delivery to consumers. The proposed system performs the simultaneous functions of estimating the power grid topology (map) and monitoring of the grid operation. The core of the system is the distributed network of sensors installed at the branching points of electrical conductors. The sensors periodically measure the RMS current in the conductor, and the phase shift between current and voltage. Localization and time synchronization of sensors are performed using GPS modules. The sensors communicate over the powerline conductor. Transformers block communication signals, separating the network into clusters. The maps of the grid segments are reconstructed for each network cluster and then combined into the full grid map. The map is used for real-time monitoring of inconsistencies in the grid behavior to detect conductor breakage, powerline overload and possibly electricity theft. The autonomous sensors are inductively powered; auxiliary solar cells are installed as backup power source.

Reflections on the Future Electric Power Grid Monitoring System

Frontiers in Electronics, 2014

A shortcoming of the contemporary power grid monitoring is that the system does not know its own state. Instead of taking automatic note of energy-flow disruptions, one deals with haphazard telephone reports of "no light in our house". We propose a novel monitoring system that requires no restructuring of the power distribution network and can be applied both to the existing grids and the future "smart grids". The proposed system is based on a network of inexpensive sensors, installed on every connecting line and communicating measured data to a central processing unit. Our approach is topological in nature, based on the connectivity aspects of the power grid embodied in Kirchhoff's current law that must be valid at every node of the network. We argue that the state of the network can be adequately characterized by specifying the RMS currents and the direction of energy flow in all connecting lines. It is essential that in this description one does not have to know the magnitude of the energy flow, only its direction. This eliminates the need to measure voltage, which would be prohibitively costly on the massive scale. In contrast, the relative phase between the current and voltage can be measured easily. Another essential point is that the instantaneous RMS currents are impractical to record and communicate, hence local averaging is required. Since Kirchhoff's law should remain valid upon averaging, the latter must be carried out at each sensor synchronously over the entire network with global synchronization provided by the GPS.

Real-Time Monitoring of Distribution System Based on State Estimation

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2016

The development of the smart grid requires new monitoring systems able to support automation functionalities to control Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). A real time Distribution System State Estimator (DSSE) integrated with bad data processor is presented in this work as a key element of the monitoring system. The developed DSSE is optimized for real time applications, particularly for computational efficiency, numerical stability and robustness against measurements with large error. The DSSE is localized within an automation platform, that performs monitoring and control at substation level, from which the requirements for monitoring are derived. DSSEs located in different automation platform may be coordinated through Multi Area algorithms, improving solution's time efficiency and robustness, but maintaining acceptable accuracy levels. The performance of real time DSSE, both for single and multi-area is analyzed and discussed by means of real time simulations performed in distribution Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) networks.

Development of a Wide Area Measurement System for Smart Grid Applications

Proceedings of the 18th IFAC World Congress, 2011

In this paper, the modeling for a complete scenario of a proposed wide area measurement system (WAMS) based on synchronized phasor measurement units (PMUs) technology with the access of a broadband communication capability is presented. The purpose is to increase the overall system efficiency and reliability for all power stages via significant dependence on WAMS as distributed intelligence agents with improved monitoring, protection, and control capabilities of power networks. The developed system is simulated using the Matlab/Simulink program. The power system layer consists of a 50 kW generation station, 20 kW wind turbine, three transformers, four circuit breakers, four buses, two short transmission lines, and two 30 kW loads. The communication layer consists of three PMUs, located at generation and load buses, and one phasor data concentrator (PDC), that will collect the data received from remote PMUs and send it to the control center for analysis and control actions. The proposed system is tested under two possible cases; normal operation and fault state. It was found that power system status can be easily monitored and controlled in real time by using the measured bus values online which improves the overall system reliability and avoids cascaded blackout during fault occurrence. The simulation results confirm the validity of the proposed WAMS technology for smart grid applications.

Real-Time Low Voltage Network Monitoring—ICT Architecture and Field Test Experience

IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 2015

Traditionally, distribution network monitoring has been focused on primary substations (i.e., high voltage/medium voltage level), whereas low voltage (LV) network has not been monitored at all. With rapid growth and penetration of distributed energy resources in LV grids, there is growing interest in extending the real-time monitoring to LV level. The framework program FP7 European Project INTEGRIS proposes an integrated real-time LV network monitoring solution and implements it in a cost-efficient way. This solution integrates smart metering data with secondary substation measurements to get a more accurate and real-time view about LV grid, uses "decentralized" distribution management architecture to optimize data flow, and uses International Electrotechnical Commission 61850 Standardbased interfaces to improve interoperability. This paper focuses on information and communications technology perspective, explains the implementation details of this monitoring solution, and presents its functionality/performance testing results from two distribution system operator field trials and from real-time digital simulator laboratory.

Electric power systems real-time monitoring and control

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2007

In recent decades, several improvements have been achieved in power system operation and control. The evolution was mainly in the development of computational and communication systems. Both areas allowed the analysis of complex models of power system operation and control that resulted in a more flexible system controlled in almost real-time mode. All these improvements favoured the change of power system operation to a new environment, in which the traditionally electrical energy system-regulated monopoly became deregulated with operations based on energy market operations. In this environment, not only security, but also the monitoring of power flow direction and the controls, represent critical issues. This paper presents an overview on the real-time monitoring and control in power systems.