Application of automation technology in power system protection and control

Postgraduate studies in electrical engineering have been an integral part of specialized training in several areas, such as power system analysis, reliability evaluation, power system control, system protection, material science, analog and digital electronics, signal processing and communications. Most universities provide courses and training in all or some of these disciplines. The University of Saskatchewan has had an active graduate program in electrical engineering since the late 1950s. Training in power system protection is as important, if not more, for engineers working in electric power utility and industrial sectors. It is interesting to note that, in North America, only a few universities offer courses in power system protection at the graduate and/or postgraduate levels. One of the universities that have offered courses for training in the area of power system protection for over thirty years is the University of Saskatchewan. This paper briefly describes the power system protection program offered at the University of Saskatchewan and outlines the facility that is used to provide hands-on experience in designing relays and applying them in utility and industrial environments. A brief account of the development of the courses in the program and the laboratory facilities is also provided.

Challenges and Limitations of Artificial Intelligence Implementation in Modern Power Grid

We apply mobile agent technology, which has attracted attention in the field of distributed software system, to a power system protection and control system. We have developed a system which can reduce the total cost of maintenance and management of protection and control equipment. We have proposed an Intranet Power System which performs supervisory control of a power system using Internet technology. We have proposed a mobile agent for power system protection and control system as part of the Intranet Power System. Although an agent is powerful in its ability to perform processing in a distributed network environment, a normal agent for business use does not offer a guarantee of operation within several milliseconds and real time performance. In this paper we propose the Real Time Mobile Agent Platform (RTMAP) which provides more powerful functions to synchronize between two or more agents in a distributed node, and redundancy to deal with unexpected communication failure. So the agent can now be applied to the power system protection and control system for which real time operation and advanced reliability are required. At present, a remote operating and monitoring system for protection and control equipment has been verified for real use and put into service. However, in order to perform maintenance or event analysis for two or more equipments, it is necessary for the operator to use the terminal (PC) for data collection and analysis, connecting and communicating each equipment individually. If we can use the agent proposed in this paper, then the information or equipment at two or more substations can be collected and analyzed automatically. Moreover if the database on a PC server performs further intensive management of data, then a full maintenance support system can be developed, and an increase more efficient maintenance work can be expected.

SIPS, the individual/hierarchical combination of monitoring, protection and control functions, is installed in many modern power systems to preserve integrity following major contingency events. The fundamental concepts underlying SIPS have been reviewed in this chapter, including system classifications, architectures and design considerations. Synchrophasor-based power system monitoring, protection and control schemes, which are applied widely, have been discussed in detail with a pictorial view of their hierarchical operation as part of SIPS. A list of synchrophasor-based SIPS implemented in the real world has also been provided in this chapter, highlighting the nature of applications and a number of the challenges experienced with respect to their operation. Uncertainty associated with power generation (particularly highly distributed renewables), reductions in system inertia, varying fault levels, and changes to fault behaviours and 'signatures' have all been identified as major challenges to reliable operation of future power systems. The influence of such factors on SIPS operation has been discussed individually for monitoring, protection and control functions, along with a focus on some recent advances that are intended to address a number of issues associated with present and future schemes. Finally, some coverage of how SIPS must satisfy reliability metrics, and an overview of testing requirements for ensuring dependable and secure operation of future power systems with net-zero carbon emissions, has been included. SIPS will undoubtedly play an ever-more critical role in the future as the power system continues its transition and evolution.

At present, the economy and society in China has developed, and infrastructure construction in China has been effectively upgraded and developed. Especially in the power industry, power and other facilities and equipment have good development prospects. Based on the background of informatization, power enterprises innovate and create themselves to meet the power demand of all users in our country. By introducing such Internet technologies as big data, power equipment can be effectively improved and upgraded. However, in the context of modern network technology, in the process of power system upgrading and transformations, attention should be paid to the protection and safety of power system to avoid security problems resulting from incompatibility between software system and power system. Therefore, this paper mainly analyzes the current status of security and protection of power system, discusses the problems of software testing system in security and protection of power system based on modern network information technology, and analyzes the application of software testing technology in security and protection of power monitoring system, so as to effectively avoid the loopholes and reduce risks in security and protection of power system.

Modern power systems, characterized by complex interconnected networks and renewable energy sources, necessitate innovative approaches for protection and control. Traditional protection schemes are often failing to harness the vast data generated by modern grid systems and are increasingly found inadequate and challenging for some applications. Recognizing the need to address these issues, this paper explores data-driven solutions, focusing on the potential of machine learning (ML) in power system protection and control. It presents a comprehensive review highlighting various applications which are challenging to address from conventional methods. Despite its promise, the integration of ML into power system protection introduces unique challenges. These challenges are examined in the paper, and suggestions are provided to overcome them. Furthermore, the paper identifies potential future research directions, reflecting the progressive trends in ML and its relevance to power system protection and control. This review thereby serves as an essential resource for practitioners and researchers working at the intersection of ML and power systems.

The 9th IET Renewable Power Generation Conference took place online in March 2021, having originally been intended to take place in Dublin, Ireland some months earlier. A major motivation for the conference was the recognition of the challenges and possibilities arising from increasing renewable shares in many countries, and the critical need for cost-effective, reliable, and robust solutions as part of the ongoing transformation of our power and energy systems. Despite the restrictions of the pandemic, approximately 70 papers were successfully presented at the conference across 15 oral and poster sessions, covering a wide range of themes including low inertia power systems, wind power plant modelling and control, renewable energy forecasting, distribution network operation and long-term planning, power system protection, electricity markets and system services etc. Subsequent to the conference, a number of the authors of the presented papers were invited to submit an extended version of their papers to a special issue of the IET RPG journal. Ultimately, after a thorough peer review process, 16 papers were accepted for the special issue, which have been grouped here under five main themes: electrical network operation and planning; power electronic converter control systems; flexibility/frequency support measures and electricity markets; power system security, protection and monitoring; and tidal stream energy.

This review comprehensively examines the burgeoning field of intelligent techniques to enhance power systems’ stability, control, and protection. As global energy demands increase and renewable energy sources become more integrated, maintaining the stability and reliability of both conventional power systems and smart grids is crucial. Traditional methods are increasingly insufficient for handling today’s power grids’ complex, dynamic nature. This paper discusses the adoption of advanced intelligence methods, including artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL), machine learning (ML), metaheuristic optimization algorithms, and other AI techniques such as fuzzy logic, reinforcement learning, and model predictive control to address these challenges. It underscores the critical importance of power system stability and the new challenges of integrating diverse energy sources. The paper reviews various intelligent methods used in power system analysis, emphasizing their roles in predictive maintenance, fault detection, real-time control, and monitoring. It details extensive research on the capabilities of AI and ML algorithms to enhance the precision and efficiency of protection systems, showing their effectiveness in accurately identifying and resolving faults. Additionally, it explores the potential of fuzzy logic in decision-making under uncertainty, reinforcement learning for dynamic stability control, and the integration of IoT and big data analytics for real-time system monitoring and optimization. Case studies from the literature are presented, offering valuable insights into practical applications. The review concludes by identifying current limitations and suggesting areas for future research, highlighting the need for more robust, flexible, and scalable intelligent systems in the power sector. This paper is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers, providing a detailed understanding of the current and future potential of intelligent techniques in power system stability, control, and protection.

The electrical power system is becoming more and more complex with the increasing demand of the electricity across the world, as the world is becoming the global village. The electrical power system must be reliable and safe enough to fulfil the energy requirements with the continuous supply of energy. The chances of power system's blackouts and outages are increasing with its increased complexity. So, there is a need of an efficient control system to make the power system more safe, efficient and reliable. Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control system (WAMPAC) is becoming an emerging technology for an efficient monitoring, protection and control of power system. Phasor measurement unit (PMU) is an integrated part of wide area monitoring, protection and control (WAMPAC) system, which can be used for monitoring, protection and control of complex electrical power systems. PMU gives the synchronized phasor measurements of voltage and current and can easily monitor and control even small disturbances in power system to protect the power system from any blackouts and outages before any fault occurs. In the proposed paper a PMU model is designed in MATLAB/Simulink and then PMU is used for power system protection and the comparative analysis are done with the conventional protection technique for an interconnected two-area network power system.

This paper presents a control hardware in the loop based testing methodology of shipboard power system's management, control and protection. A shipboard power system containing, two main diesels generators, an emergency generator, battery storage system, double propulsion system, hotel load, critical load and protection switches was modeled in details for the purpose of real time simulation. Ship mechanical characteristics were simplified. Real time simulator, industrial protection relay, panel PC for PMS and SCADA system were connected in a hardware in the loop testbed. Controllers for battery storage, propulsion and generators were modeled within the simulator. A functional PMS was developed using the presented testbed. PMS system was interfaced to lower level controllers and protection relays through Modbus and IEC61850 communication protocol. Various test scenarios were executed which can usually be done only during long and expensive see trials or cannot even be tested at all.

Synchrophasor measurement technology has become a mature technology with deployment of large number of PMUs in many major power systems across the globe in last two decades. The driving force behind the innovation of PMUs is that, the occurrence of major blackouts in many power systems around the world. This paper provides a brief introduction to PMU and synchrophasor measurement technology and the applications of these measurements for improved monitoring, protection and control of power system. Also the superiority of PMU based synchrophasor technology over conventional SCADA technology is discussed. Industry is now focusing on synchrophasor-based applications for improved monitoring and control of power system, which are discussed in brief in section-IV. Some international standards governing synchrophasor measurements in power system and PMU interoperability are listed in section-V. This paper help readers to understand synchrophasor measurement technology, its superiority over conventional SCADA system and present research focus on application of synchronized measurement in improving power system reliability.

In recent decades, the advantages of a fast development in the computer and communication technology have been successfully harvested in the majority of technological areas for updating various mechanisms and processes. Power system control and protection is no exception. However, actual implementation of modern technologies into power system control and protection mechanisms depends on a country - in some of them it is rather dare and open-minded, in some of them it is very conventional. This also goes for underfrequency load shedding protection. In case of a sudden underfre- quency conditions appearance in the power system only a centralized gathering of measurements and global actions (e.g. use of so-called WAMPAC technology - Wide Area Measurement Protection And Control) can represent an appropriate approach to a global problem. In such circumstances, underfrequency load shedding is often the last resort tool for avoiding a total power system blackout. It's appropriate actions are of great importance both from technological and economical point of view. In this paper several different adaptive approaches are presented and compared in their efficiency via testing on two different dynamic power system models. First scheme is a typical adaptive scheme with calculation of active power deficit and equal distribution of the calculated value among four different load shedding steps. Second scheme involves some modification of shedding steps amount according to frequency first time derivative change between two steps. Other two schemes are of predictive type and shed load according to the prediction of minimal frequency value after active power deficit occurrence. Tests have shown that predictive schemes yield best results and therefore should be strongly considered as an actual possibility for power system implementation in the future.

As the most basic and lowest data node of ubiquitous power Internet of things, power system protection and control equipment plays a vital role in the stable operation of ubiquitous power Internet of things. The current status and problems of power system protection and control equipment manufacturing are discussed. Aiming at the National Equipment Manufacturing Industry Standardization and Quality Improvement Plan, the production intelligent manufacturing standards and related test verification standards of power system protection and control equipment are put forward. Four key points of intelligent manufacturing of power system protection and control equipment are studied. Technical features: intelligent design verification, intelligent production scheduling verification, intelligent production, power control and protection equipment life cycle data management. Through the gradual implementation of these technologies, the level of intelligent manufacturing of protection and control equipment for ubiquitous power network interconnection has been improved, hoping to promote the implementation and application of national equipment manufacturing standards in the power industry.

Electrical power system monitoring, protection, operation, and control schemes are undergoing significant changes toward the next generation fully automated, resilient, and self-healing grids. At present, there still exists a lack of available user-friendly tools for the synchronized measurement technology supported application design. This paper presents a synchro-measurement application development framework (SADF) to promote a simplified design and thorough validation of synchro-measurement (IEEE Standard C37.118.2-2011) supported user-defined applications under realistic conditions. The proposed SADF supports online receiving of a phasor measurement unit (PMU) or phasor data concentrator (PDC) provided data stream and enables simultaneous use of processed machine-readable synchro-measurements in advanced user-defined applications. This paper fills the scientific gap between the IEEE Standard C37.118.2-2011 specifications and its implementation by proposing a novel robust communication technique and efficient synchro-measurement data parsing methodology. As a proof of concept, the proposed SADF is implemented as a novel open-source MATLAB library. Combining this library with MATLAB’s signal processing and visualization functions allows mastering the design and validation of complex wide-area monitoring, protection, and control applications, as well as PMU/PDC performance and compliance verification. Finally, this paper verifies the proposed library against the standard specifications, assesses its interoperability and performance via a cyber-physical simulation platform, and presents online voltage magnitude monitoring as an example application.

In recent decades, the advantages of a fast development in the communication and computer technology have been successfully harvested in the majority of technological areas for updating various mechanisms and processes. Power system control and protection is no exception. However, actual implementation of modern technologies into power system control and protection mechanisms depends on a country. In case of a sudden underfrequency conditions appearance in the power system only a centralized gathering of measurements and global actions (e.g. use of WAMS and GPS technology) can represent an appropriate approach to a global problem. In such circumstances, underfrequency load shedding is often the last resort tool for avoiding a total power system blackout. Its appropriate actions are of great importance both from technological and economical point of view. In this paper several different adaptive approaches are compared in their efficiency via testing on different dynamic power system models.