Image Embedding of PMU Data for Deep Learning towards Transient Disturbance Classification

This paper presents a study on power grid disturbance classification by Deep Learning (DL). A real synchrophasor set composing of three different types of disturbance events from the Frequency Monitoring Network (FNET) is used. An image embedding technique called Gramian Angular Field is applied to transform each time series of event data to a two-dimensional image for learning. Two main DL algorithms, i.e. CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) and RNN (Recurrent Neural Network) are tested and compared with two widely used data mining tools, the Support Vector Machine and Decision Tree. The test results demonstrate the superiority of the both DL algorithms over other methods in the application of power system transient disturbance classification.Comment: An updated version of this manuscript has been accepted by the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Energy Internet (ICEI), Beijing, Chin

Siamese recurrent neural networks for the robust classification of grid disturbances in transmission power systems considering unknown events

The automated identification and localisation of grid disturbances is a major research area and key technology for the monitoring and control of future power systems. Current recognition systems rely on sufficient training data and are very error-prone to disturbance events, which are unseen during training. This study introduces a robust Siamese recurrent neural network using attention-based embedding functions to simultaneously identify and locate disturbances from synchrophasor data. Additionally, a novel double-sigmoid classifier is introduced for reliable differentiation between known and unknown disturbance types and locations. Different models are evaluated within an open-set classification problem for a generic power transmission system considering different unknown disturbance events. A detailed analysis of the results is provided and classification results are compared with a state-of-the-art open-set classifier

Mitigating Multi-Stage Cascading Failure by Reinforcement Learning

This paper proposes a cascading failure mitigation strategy based on Reinforcement Learning (RL) method. Firstly, the principles of RL are introduced. Then, the Multi-Stage Cascading Failure (MSCF) problem is presented and its challenges are investigated. The problem is then tackled by the RL based on DC-OPF (Optimal Power Flow). Designs of the key elements of the RL framework (rewards, states, etc.) are also discussed in detail. Experiments on the IEEE 118-bus system by both shallow and deep neural networks demonstrate promising results in terms of reduced system collapse rates.Comment: This paper has been accepted and presented in the IEEE ISGT-Asia conference in 201

Impact Assessment, Detection, And Mitigation Of False Data Attacks In Electrical Power Systems

The global energy market has seen a massive increase in investment and capital flow in the last few decades. This has completely transformed the way power grids operate - legacy systems are now being replaced by advanced smart grid infrastructures that attest to better connectivity and increased reliability. One popular example is the extensive deployment of phasor measurement units, which is referred to PMUs, that constantly provide time-synchronized phasor measurements at a high resolution compared to conventional meters. This enables system operators to monitor in real-time the vast electrical network spanning thousands of miles. However, a targeted cyber attack on PMUs can prompt operators to take wrong actions that can eventually jeopardize the power system reliability. Such threats originating from the cyber-space continue to increase as power grids become more dependent on PMU communication networks. Additionally, these threats are becoming increasingly efficient in remaining undetected for longer periods while gaining deep access into the power networks. An attack on the energy sector immediately impacts national defense, emergency services, and all aspects of human life. Cyber attacks against the electric grid may soon become a tactic of high-intensity warfare between nations in near future and lead to social disorder. Within this context, this dissertation investigates the cyber security of PMUs that affects critical decision-making for a reliable operation of the power grid. In particular, this dissertation focuses on false data attacks, a key vulnerability in the PMU architecture, that inject, alter, block, or delete data in devices or in communication network channels. This dissertation addresses three important cyber security aspects - (1) impact assessment, (2) detection, and (3) mitigation of false data attacks. A comprehensive background of false data attack models targeting various steady-state control blocks is first presented. By investigating inter-dependencies between the cyber and the physical layers, this dissertation then identifies possible points of ingress and categorizes risk at different levels of threats. In particular, the likelihood of cyber attacks against the steady-state power system control block causing the worst-case impacts such as cascading failures is investigated. The case study results indicate that false data attacks do not often lead to widespread blackouts, but do result in subsequent line overloads and load shedding. The impacts are magnified when attacks are coordinated with physical failures of generators, transformers, or heavily loaded lines. Further, this dissertation develops a data-driven false data attack detection method that is independent of existing in-built security mechanisms in the state estimator. It is observed that a convolutional neural network classifier can quickly detect and isolate false measurements compared to other deep learning and traditional classifiers. Finally, this dissertation develops a recovery plan that minimizes the consequence of threats when sophisticated attacks remain undetected and have already caused multiple failures. Two new controlled islanding methods are developed that minimize the impact of attacks under the lack of, or partial information on the threats. The results indicate that the system operators can successfully contain the negative impacts of cyber attacks while creating stable and observable islands. Overall, this dissertation presents a comprehensive plan for fast and effective detection and mitigation of false data attacks, improving cyber security preparedness, and enabling continuity of operations

Impact Assessment, Detection, and Mitigation of False Data Attacks in Electrical Power Systems

The global energy market has seen a massive increase in investment and capital flow in the last few decades. This has completely transformed the way power grids operate - legacy systems are now being replaced by advanced smart grid infrastructures that attest to better connectivity and increased reliability. One popular example is the extensive deployment of phasor measurement units, which is referred to PMUs, that constantly provide time-synchronized phasor measurements at a high resolution compared to conventional meters. This enables system operators to monitor in real-time the vast electrical network spanning thousands of miles. However, a targeted cyber attack on PMUs can prompt operators to take wrong actions that can eventually jeopardize the power system reliability. Such threats originating from the cyber-space continue to increase as power grids become more dependent on PMU communication networks. Additionally, these threats are becoming increasingly efficient in remaining undetected for longer periods while gaining deep access into the power networks. An attack on the energy sector immediately impacts national defense, emergency services, and all aspects of human life. Cyber attacks against the electric grid may soon become a tactic of high-intensity warfare between nations in near future and lead to social disorder. Within this context, this dissertation investigates the cyber security of PMUs that affects critical decision-making for a reliable operation of the power grid. In particular, this dissertation focuses on false data attacks, a key vulnerability in the PMU architecture, that inject, alter, block, or delete data in devices or in communication network channels. This dissertation addresses three important cyber security aspects - (1) impact assessment, (2) detection, and (3) mitigation of false data attacks. A comprehensive background of false data attack models targeting various steady-state control blocks is first presented. By investigating inter-dependencies between the cyber and the physical layers, this dissertation then identifies possible points of ingress and categorizes risk at different levels of threats. In particular, the likelihood of cyber attacks against the steady-state power system control block causing the worst-case impacts such as cascading failures is investigated. The case study results indicate that false data attacks do not often lead to widespread blackouts, but do result in subsequent line overloads and load shedding. The impacts are magnified when attacks are coordinated with physical failures of generators, transformers, or heavily loaded lines. Further, this dissertation develops a data-driven false data attack detection method that is independent of existing in-built security mechanisms in the state estimator. It is observed that a convolutional neural network classifier can quickly detect and isolate false measurements compared to other deep learning and traditional classifiers. Finally, this dissertation develops a recovery plan that minimizes the consequence of threats when sophisticated attacks remain undetected and have already caused multiple failures. Two new controlled islanding methods are developed that minimize the impact of attacks under the lack of, or partial information on the threats. The results indicate that the system operators can successfully contain the negative impacts of cyber attacks while creating stable and observable islands. Overall, this dissertation presents a comprehensive plan for fast and effective detection and mitigation of false data attacks, improving cyber security preparedness, and enabling continuity of operations

Power System Stability Analysis using Neural Network

This work focuses on the design of modern power system controllers for automatic voltage regulators (AVR) and the applications of machine learning (ML) algorithms to correctly classify the stability of the IEEE 14 bus system. The LQG controller performs the best time domain characteristics compared to PID and LQG, while the sensor and amplifier gain is changed in a dynamic passion. After that, the IEEE 14 bus system is modeled, and contingency scenarios are simulated in the System Modelica Dymola environment. Application of the Monte Carlo principle with modified Poissons probability distribution principle is reviewed from the literature that reduces the total contingency from 1000k to 20k. The damping ratio of the contingency is then extracted, pre-processed, and fed to ML algorithms, such as logistic regression, support vector machine, decision trees, random forests, Naive Bayes, and k-nearest neighbor. A neural network (NN) of one, two, three, five, seven, and ten hidden layers with 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% data size is considered to observe and compare the prediction time, accuracy, precision, and recall value. At lower data size, 25%, in the neural network with two-hidden layers and a single hidden layer, the accuracy becomes 95.70% and 97.38%, respectively. Increasing the hidden layer of NN beyond a second does not increase the overall score and takes a much longer prediction time; thus could be discarded for similar analysis. Moreover, when five, seven, and ten hidden layers are used, the F1 score reduces. However, in practical scenarios, where the data set contains more features and a variety of classes, higher data size is required for NN for proper training. This research will provide more insight into the damping ratio-based system stability prediction with traditional ML algorithms and neural networks.Comment: Masters Thesis Dissertatio