P and M class phasor measurement unit algorithms using adaptive cascaded filters

The new standard C37.118.1 lays down strict performance limits for phasor measurement units (PMUs) under steady-state and dynamic conditions. Reference algorithms are also presented for the P (performance) and M (measurement) class PMUs. In this paper, the performance of these algorithms is analysed during some key signal scenarios, particularly those of off-nominal frequency, frequency ramps, and harmonic contamination. While it is found that total vector error (TVE) accuracy is relatively easy to achieve, the reference algorithm is not able to achieve a useful ROCOF (rate of change of frequency) accuracy. Instead, this paper presents alternative algorithms for P and M class PMUs which use adaptive filtering techniques in real time at up to 10 kHz sample rates, allowing consistent accuracy to be maintained across a ±33% frequency range. ROCOF errors can be reduced by factors of >40 for P class and >100 for M class devices

Improved fault-tolerant PMU placement using algebraic connectivity of graphs

Due to perpetual and innovative technological advancements, the need for reliable and stable power generation and transmission has been increasing dramatically over the years. Smart grids use advanced technologies to provide self-monitoring, self-checking and self-healing power networks, including smart metering devices capable of providing accurate measurements of the network’s power components. Among the most important metering devices in this context are “Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs)â€. PMUs are metering devices that provide synchronized measurements of voltage, current and phase angle differences using signals from the GPS satellites. However, due to the high cost of such advanced metering devices, studies were performed to determine the minimum number of PMUs required and their strategic placements in the power networks to provide full system observability. In this thesis, we consider fault-tolerant PMU placement aiming to minimize the number of PMUs while maintaining system observability under various contingencies. Conventionally, the optimal number of PMUs in a system is determined based on the system’s connectivity matrix under no contingency. This thesis considers fault- tolerant PMU placement under single and double branch failures. We propose algebraic connectivity, or Fiedler value, to identify the worst- case branch failures in terms of connectivity degradation. The proposed PMU placement accounts for this worst-case and covers a large percentage of other single and double branch failures. Furthermore, we propose the usage of Fiedler vector to provide a PMU placement that would ensure that the system remains fully observable during system partitioning into separate sub-systems. The resulting placements are compared with those obtained without considering connectivity degradation or system partitioning in terms of the percentages of observable systems during any single and double branch failures. The proposed PMU placements have increased percentages of fully observable systems in the event of any single or double branch failures compared to non—contingency based placement, with a reasonable increase in number of PMUs, and for some placement approaches no increase in PMUs is needed for providing a higher percentage of fully observable systems

Improved fault-tolerant PMU placement using algebraic connectivity of graphs

Due to perpetual and innovative technological advancements, the need for reliable and stable power generation and transmission has been increasing dramatically over the years. Smart grids use advanced technologies to provide self-monitoring, self-checking and self-healing power networks, including smart metering devices capable of providing accurate measurements of the network\u27s power components. Among the most important metering devices in this context are Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) . PMUs are metering devices that provide synchronized measurements of voltage, current and phase angle differences using signals from the GPS satellites. However, due to the high cost of such advanced metering devices, studies were performed to determine the minimum number of PMUs required and their strategic placements in the power networks to provide full system observability. In this thesis, we consider fault-tolerant PMU placement aiming to minimize the number of PMUs while maintaining system observability under various contingencies. Conventionally, the optimal number of PMUs in a system is determined based on the system\u27s connectivity matrix under no contingency. This thesis considers fault- tolerant PMU placement under single and double branch failures. We propose algebraic connectivity, or Fiedler value, to identify the worst- case branch failures in terms of connectivity degradation. The proposed PMU placement accounts for this worst-case and covers a large percentage of other single and double branch failures. Furthermore, we propose the usage of Fiedler vector to provide a PMU placement that would ensure that the system remains fully observable during system partitioning into separate sub-systems. The resulting placements are compared with those obtained without considering connectivity degradation or system partitioning in terms of the percentages of observable systems during any single and double branch failures. The proposed PMU placements have increased percentages of fully observable systems in the event of any single or double branch failures compared to non—contingency based placement, with a reasonable increase in number of PMUs, and for some placement approaches no increase in PMUs is needed for providing a higher percentage of fully observable systems

The power system and microgrid protection-a review

In recent years, power grid infrastructures have been changing from a centralized power generation model to a paradigm where the generation capability is spread over an increasing number of small power stations relying on renewable energy sources. A microgrid is a local network including renewable and non-renewable energy sources as well as distributed loads. Microgrids can be operated in both grid-connected and islanded modes to fill the gap between the significant increase in demand and storage of electricity and transmission issues. Power electronics play an important role in microgrids due to the penetration of renewable energy sources. While microgrids have many benefits for power systems, they cause many challenges, especially in protection systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of protection systems with the penetration of microgrids in the distribution network. The expansion of a microgrid affects the coordination and protection by a change in the current direction in the distribution network. Various solutions have been suggested in the literature to resolve the microgrid protection issues. The conventional coordination of the protection system is based on the time delays between relays as the primary and backup protection. The system protection scheme has to be changed in the presence of a microgrid, so several protection schemes have been proposed to improve the protection system. Microgrids are classified into different types based on the DC/AC system, communication infrastructure, rotating synchronous machine or inverter-based distributed generation (DG), etc. Finally, we discuss the trend of future protection schemes and compare the conventional power systems

Security Analysis of Interdependent Critical Infrastructures: Power, Cyber and Gas

abstract: Our daily life is becoming more and more reliant on services provided by the infrastructures power, gas , communication networks. Ensuring the security of these infrastructures is of utmost importance. This task becomes ever more challenging as the inter-dependence among these infrastructures grows and a security breach in one infrastructure can spill over to the others. The implication is that the security practices/ analysis recommended for these infrastructures should be done in coordination. This thesis, focusing on the power grid, explores strategies to secure the system that look into the coupling of the power grid to the cyber infrastructure, used to manage and control it, and to the gas grid, that supplies an increasing amount of reserves to overcome contingencies. The first part (Part I) of the thesis, including chapters 2 through 4, focuses on the coupling of the power and the cyber infrastructure that is used for its control and operations. The goal is to detect malicious attacks gaining information about the operation of the power grid to later attack the system. In chapter 2, we propose a hierarchical architecture that correlates the analysis of high resolution Micro-Phasor Measurement Unit (microPMU) data and traffic analysis on the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) packets, to infer the security status of the grid and detect the presence of possible intruders. An essential part of this architecture is tied to the analysis on the microPMU data. In chapter 3 we establish a set of anomaly detection rules on microPMU data that flag "abnormal behavior". A placement strategy of microPMU sensors is also proposed to maximize the sensitivity in detecting anomalies. In chapter 4, we focus on developing rules that can localize the source of an events using microPMU to further check whether a cyber attack is causing the anomaly, by correlating SCADA traffic with the microPMU data analysis results. The thread that unies the data analysis in this chapter is the fact that decision are made without fully estimating the state of the system; on the contrary, decisions are made using a set of physical measurements that falls short by orders of magnitude to meet the needs for observability. More specifically, in the first part of this chapter (sections 4.1- 4.2), using microPMU data in the substation, methodologies for online identification of the source Thevenin parameters are presented. This methodology is used to identify reconnaissance activity on the normally-open switches in the substation, initiated by attackers to gauge its controllability over the cyber network. The applications of this methodology in monitoring the voltage stability of the grid is also discussed. In the second part of this chapter (sections 4.3-4.5), we investigate the localization of faults. Since the number of PMU sensors available to carry out the inference is insufficient to ensure observability, the problem can be viewed as that of under-sampling a "graph signal"; the analysis leads to a PMU placement strategy that can achieve the highest resolution in localizing the fault, for a given number of sensors. In both cases, the results of the analysis are leveraged in the detection of cyber-physical attacks, where microPMU data and relevant SCADA network traffic information are compared to determine if a network breach has affected the integrity of the system information and/or operations. In second part of this thesis (Part II), the security analysis considers the adequacy and reliability of schedules for the gas and power network. The motivation for scheduling jointly supply in gas and power networks is motivated by the increasing reliance of power grids on natural gas generators (and, indirectly, on gas pipelines) as providing critical reserves. Chapter 5 focuses on unveiling the challenges and providing solution to this problem.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 201

EcoBlock: Grid Impacts, Scaling, and Resilience

Widespread deployment of EcoBlocks has the potential to transform today's electricity system into one that is more resilient, flexible, efficient and sustainable. In this vision, the system will consist of self- su cient, renewable-powered, block-scale entities that can deliberately adjust their net power exchange and can optimize performance, maintain stability, support each other, or disconnect entirely from the grid as needed. This report is intended as an independent analysis of the potential relationships, both constructive and adverse, between EcoBlocks and the grid