Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions

Abstract Historically, the power distribution grid was a passive system with limited control capabilities. Due to its increasing digitalization, this paradigm has shifted: the passive architecture of the power system itself, which includes cables, lines, and transformers, is extended by a communicat...

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Main Authors: Friederike Wenderoth, Elisabeth Drayer, Robert Schmoll, Michael Niedermeier, Martin Braun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2019-09-01
Series:Energy Informatics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42162-019-0083-1
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author Friederike Wenderoth
Elisabeth Drayer
Robert Schmoll
Michael Niedermeier
Martin Braun
author_facet Friederike Wenderoth
Elisabeth Drayer
Robert Schmoll
Michael Niedermeier
Martin Braun
author_sort Friederike Wenderoth
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Historically, the power distribution grid was a passive system with limited control capabilities. Due to its increasing digitalization, this paradigm has shifted: the passive architecture of the power system itself, which includes cables, lines, and transformers, is extended by a communication infrastructure to become an active distribution grid. This transformation to an active system results from control capabilities that combine the communication and the physical components of the grid. It aims at optimizing, securing, enhancing, or facilitating the power system operation. The combination of power system, communication, and control capabilities is also referred to as a “smart grid”. A multitude of different architectures exist to realize such integrated systems. They are often labeled with descriptive terms such as “distributed,” “decentralized,” “local,” or “central." However, the actual meaning of these terms varies considerably within the research community.This paper illustrates the conflicting uses of prominent classification terms for the description of smart grid architectures. One source of this inconsistency is that the development of such interconnected systems is not only in the hands of classic power engineering but requires input from neighboring research disciplines such as control theory and automation, information and telecommunication technology, and electronics. This impedes a clear classification of smart grid solutions. Furthermore, this paper proposes a set of well-defined operation architectures specialized for use in power systems. Based on these architectures, this paper defines clear classifiers for the assessment of smart grid solutions. This allows the structural classification and comparison between different smart grid solutions and promotes a mutual understanding between the research disciplines. This paper presents revised parts of Chapters 4.2 and 5.2 of the dissertation of Drayer (Resilient Operation of Distribution Grids with Distributed-Hierarchical Architecture. Energy Management and Power System Operation, vol. 6, 2018).
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spelling doaj.art-2b3ab919c1384ab782f0c279dbb063e62022-12-22T01:17:15ZengSpringerOpenEnergy Informatics2520-89422019-09-012S111310.1186/s42162-019-0083-1Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutionsFriederike Wenderoth0Elisabeth Drayer1Robert Schmoll2Michael Niedermeier3Martin Braun4Department Grid Planning and Grid Operation, Fraunhofer IEEDepartment of Energy Management and Power System Operation, University of KasselDepartment of Measurement and Control, University of KasselChair of Computer Networks and Computer Communications, University of PassauDepartment Grid Planning and Grid Operation, Fraunhofer IEEAbstract Historically, the power distribution grid was a passive system with limited control capabilities. Due to its increasing digitalization, this paradigm has shifted: the passive architecture of the power system itself, which includes cables, lines, and transformers, is extended by a communication infrastructure to become an active distribution grid. This transformation to an active system results from control capabilities that combine the communication and the physical components of the grid. It aims at optimizing, securing, enhancing, or facilitating the power system operation. The combination of power system, communication, and control capabilities is also referred to as a “smart grid”. A multitude of different architectures exist to realize such integrated systems. They are often labeled with descriptive terms such as “distributed,” “decentralized,” “local,” or “central." However, the actual meaning of these terms varies considerably within the research community.This paper illustrates the conflicting uses of prominent classification terms for the description of smart grid architectures. One source of this inconsistency is that the development of such interconnected systems is not only in the hands of classic power engineering but requires input from neighboring research disciplines such as control theory and automation, information and telecommunication technology, and electronics. This impedes a clear classification of smart grid solutions. Furthermore, this paper proposes a set of well-defined operation architectures specialized for use in power systems. Based on these architectures, this paper defines clear classifiers for the assessment of smart grid solutions. This allows the structural classification and comparison between different smart grid solutions and promotes a mutual understanding between the research disciplines. This paper presents revised parts of Chapters 4.2 and 5.2 of the dissertation of Drayer (Resilient Operation of Distribution Grids with Distributed-Hierarchical Architecture. Energy Management and Power System Operation, vol. 6, 2018).http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42162-019-0083-1Smart gridArchitectureCommunication networkDistributed controlDecentralized controlCentral control
spellingShingle Friederike Wenderoth
Elisabeth Drayer
Robert Schmoll
Michael Niedermeier
Martin Braun
Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
Energy Informatics
Smart grid
Architecture
Communication network
Distributed control
Decentralized control
Central control
title Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
title_full Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
title_fullStr Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
title_full_unstemmed Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
title_short Architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
title_sort architectural and functional classification of smart grid solutions
topic Smart grid
Architecture
Communication network
Distributed control
Decentralized control
Central control
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42162-019-0083-1
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