Smart Grid Technology - The Future of Power Network: A Review

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 09 Issue: 07 | July 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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Smart Grid Technology - The Future of Power Network: A Review
Veenu Sharma1, Meena Siwach2
1Former Assistant Professor, Kurukshetra Institute of Technology & Management, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.
2Assistant Professor, Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.
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Abstract - The depletion of energy resources with the
increases in demand of power pushes the world towards the
smart power management system to balance it. This paper
briefly discusses about the Auto Healing System popularly
known as Smart Grid. This emerging technology leads to
better utilization of energy with great efficiency. The system
integration of Renewable Energy Resources (RER) with
traditional plants brings better reliability and security to the
system. The bidirectional flow of energyandinformationhelps
to provide the real time consumption detail to the consumers
will make it more adaptable. Big Data collection through
Advanced Metering Infrastructure and processed in a
meaningful manner is a challenge to the system. Security
management is also key concern in this area.
Key Words: Smart Grid, Self healing, Advanced
Metering infrastructure, Smart Meters, Phasor
Measurement Unit, Big Data.
1. INTRODUCTION
In present era, the deficit in power generation due to
increase in demand of power to meet the need of electricity
it is required to switch on a system which is more reliable,
energy efficient, manage the power demand and having self
healing property. All these features indicate towards “Smart
Grid”. Smart Grid(SG) is digital automated network which
can store the data, analyze and make decision based on it.
This helps to monitor, measure, and control the flow of
power in real time that helps to minimize the losses along
with it contribute to develop a system or actions that
reduces the losses [1]. To maximize the reliability and
stability of the system, SG make coordination between the
requirement and capabilities of all the generators,gridusers
and end users. The infrastructure of existingfossil fuel based
power system can be converted into smart Grid to optimize
the assets[3].
1.1 Fossil power Grid Vs Smart Grid
By Comparing SG with traditional one, SG concept can be
better understand. Conventional power system is a vertical
unidirectional network having power flow from generation
to end users through high voltage transmission line having
centralized source of power supply. The difference in
conventional and smart Grid are:
Traditional Power Grid Smart Grid
1. Centralized source of
power.
1. Centralized as well as
distributed power plants.
2. Unidirectional flow of
energy from generating end
to user end.
2. Bidirectional flow of
energy fromgenerating end
to user end.
3. Passive participation of
customer.
3. Active participation of
customer.
4. Real time monitoring is
limited to generation &
transmission only.
4. Real time monitoring is
possible from generationto
customer.
5. Difficult to integrate it
with other alternative
sources.
5. Possible to integratewith
renewable energy sources.
6. At the time of failure and
blackout, customer receive
no energy.
6. It can be rerouted for the
continuity of supply.Incase
of failure islanding mode is
activated make the system
more reliable.
7. Peak shaving is not
possible as the flowofpower
is unidirectional.
7. Peak Shaving is possible
i.e. electricity cansendback
when demand is high.
Table 1. Comparison of Fossil power plant and SG
Fig. 1: Power and information flow in Traditional power
plant
The information flow from generating end to distribution
end in traditional plants while in SG the information is
shared from generating to consumer end.

Fig. 2: Power and information flow in Smart Grid
Here information flow is represented by blue color.
1.2. Features:
1. Flexibility: It is flexible to interconnect with the fossil as
well as distributed power plants.
2. Efficient: Without adding extra infrastructure the fossil
fuel power plant can be modernized into smart grid.
3. Power and data flow: Two-way communication of power
and data between consumer and utility is possible thatgives
control to the consumers to reduce the wastage of power
and precise & timely information of consumption of
electricity.
4. Integration with advanced electrical storage devices.
5. Resilient: It is more resilient i.e. has abilitytorecoverfrom
adverse and abnormal conditionand restorethenormal one.
6. Reliability: Reliability is continuity of supply. It provides
secure, consistent quality of supply to the consumers.
7. Cost Effectiveness: it provides cost effective powersupply
to the consumer by providing choice of both centralized and
distributed power sources.
8. Environmental impact: It minimize the Environmental
impact by reducing the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere.
1.3. Characteristic of Smart Grid:
Fault and disturbances in power systemareunavoidable. It’s
severeness depends on the fault type andthefaultarea.Here
the unique attribute i.e. self healing (SH) property of SG
make it popular. SH means at the time of fault, the SG system
can repair itself [1-2]. It provides the detection and
segregation of faulty network from heathier network. It is
done through distributed generator (DG), smart switches
and protection devices. During this action, no manpower is
required. It is real time computational system to supervise,
analyze and take corrective action quickly [2].
The self-healing(SH) primarily objective is to tacklethefault
in better way and secure the whole system. To understand
this characteristic deeply, the self-healing property is
studied under generation, transmission, and distribution
system. At Generation side, DG & reconfiguration of smart
switches present for SH [4]. In transmission system, for SH
the parameters studies are related to transmission line,
transformer,circuit breaker andsmartsensor.Smartsensors
observe the temperature of transmission line, current
carrying capacity of conductors, thermal ability, fault
location, sag, ice loading and isolator failure [5-6]. In
distribution system, fault diagnosis is very important and
crucial factor to improve the power quality, reliability. The
challenge in this section is the increase in magnitude of fault
current which make it difficult to maintain the stability and
synchronism. To limit the fault current magnitude, fault
current limiter (FCL) is used in between main grid and
microgrid[8].
The FCL can be used as energy storing device connected to
power grid to maintain the stability of the system. In
distribution network even after the clearance of fault, the
power quality, reliability, efficiency affected. Voltage supply
and frequency should be in prescribedlimitforbetterpower
quality. Reliability means continuity of supply so Quick and
high-quality research needed in distribution system to
restore the system after clearance of fault.
One of the SH method in distribution system is based on
speed of travelling wave. At the time of fault the speed of
travelling wave increases that indicate the occurrence of
fault [8-9]. Other methods areMarkovanalytical methodand
adaptive over current method[9]. When load varies relay
automatically restore the setting but in case of any
disturbance the islanding mode is activated in adaptive
overcurrent method. When there is decrease in frequency
load shedding Algorithm is used [9].
The architecture of SH control divided in direct and
conditional control system [10]. Direct control is based on
the closed loop analysis for fault recovery and prevention,
maintaining the optimal control while the conditional
control depends on logical control on several parameters
from bus and take action immediatelyonfaultysection[5].It
acts as protective control between customer and utility.
Normal and faulty condition are the two condition in SH.
During normal condition SH enhances the stability margin
and performance while during the faulty conditionitcontrol
the load variation automatically [1].
2. Components of Smart Grid:
According to Electric Power Research Institute the “Smart
Grid” is one that incorporates information and
communication technology into every aspect of electricity
generation, delivery, and consumption in order to minimize
environmental impact, enhance market, improve reliability
and services and reduce cost and improve efficiency[12].
NIST (National Institute of StandardandTechnology)givesa
conceptual model of Smart Grid where power and
information flows in bidirectional mode[12]. Flow of power

is represented by red line where as blue color represent the
flow of information.
Fig. 3: The conceptual model of SG
The Smart grid consists of digitally automated systems to
sense, communicate, analyze, and control the functions of
grid. To understand completely Smart Grid (SG) divides in
three system[12]:
1. Infrastructure system
2. Communication system
3. Protection system
1. Infrastructure System: the system is further subdivided
into energy system, data, or information collection system.
The energy system generates, transmit and distribute
energy.
a. Energy System:
i. Generation of Power: Power is generated through
Generator in the power plants. In traditionallypowerplants,
the energy is generated centrally. These plants are large in
size and located at center of load. Use of Distributed
generators (DG) in SG gives an advantage to it. These DG can
be connected to Distributed energy Resources (DER) power
plant as well as fossil fuel power plant but connection of DG
to existing system is a big challenge. The wide Fluctuation in
power generated by DER, there is always a wide gap
between generation and demand.Also,theoperatingcostfor
generation of one unit of electricity by DG is comparatively
high to the generator connected centrally producing
electricity at large scale in tradition power plant[12].
Although we have limitations but in future SG will adopt DG
at a large scale to generate power.
ii. Transmission System: It include the existing transmission
network with addition of new technology power electronics
devices and a smart substation. Here the self-healing
property of substation making the systemmore reliable[13].
iii. Distribution System: One of the challenge among this is
how to distribute the energy effectively sothatthelossesare
minimum[14]. Many research work has been proposed to
connect many DG with Smart Distribution Grid to increase
the system flexibility with the generation system.
b. Data or information collection system: To collect
information from end user, meters and measurement
equipment is required. Smart meters, smartsensors,Phasor
Measurement unit(PMU) is connected for this.
AMI(Automatically Metering infrastructure) make the two
way communication with consumer while AMR (Automatic
meter Reading) collect the reading i.e. consumption of
electricity of consumer and send it to centrally data base
system to generate tariff. Smart Sensors are microprocessor
based device used for monitoring and measuring. PMU
measures voltage and frequency at any point of time and
provide time stamped data to system operator to compare
the shapes of AC wave generated by no. of PMU’s connected
to respond quickly and making the system more secure and
reliable[17].
2. Communication System: the system is responsible for the
flow of information among various devices and systems.it
can be wired or wireless. For this SCADA with other outage
system which collectively known as operational technology
(OT) is used[15]. The functions of OT are:
i. Monitoring and controlling of all the devices connected to
grid.
ii. monitoring and controlling of grid devices i.e. circuit
breaker, field switches and power electronics devices.
In parallel with OT, IT system manage the billing, revenue
collection and depreciation cost.
3. Protection system: it comprises of fault prediction and
prevention, diagnosis, fault clearance along with end user
errors, device failure[16].
The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and
Measurement Technologies that make up the power grid
contains Smart meters, PMU’s. Through these measuring
devices the real time data with high resolution is collected
that make the smart grid two way communicator with end
user. The real time stored information is utilized to enhance
the observability of power grid, reliability and economic
operation of grid & consumer’s behavior[big data]. Smart
meter collect the energy consumption in every 15 min.
whereas PMU’s record it with high resolution in every30-60
sec. The data generated by smart meters and PMU’s is
3TB/yr and 40TB/yr respectively[18]. This big data can be
utilized for the advancement of smart grids. Application of
big data in smart grid are[18]:
3. Role of big data in Smart Grid:

1. Help to improve reliability and flexibility to connect to
renewable energy resources
2. Improvement in performance by analyzing the previous
data
3. Analysis improvise the decision making
4. Optimum utilization of resources.
The data volume, data uncertainty and data security are the
key challenges. As the utilities increasing in exponential rate
so the data volume is very high. To convert the big raw data
into actionable information, quality data is required that
must have accuracy, completeness, and consistency but in
real world due to aging of sensors, noise etc. error occurred.
We all know the data security is an important issue
nowadays. Data security means privacy and data integrity.
Cyber security is another challenge [23]. Though we have
these challenges but the possibilities of emergence of new
technologies to clear these issues are also there. Lot of
research work been proposed regarding the data security
[17].
The vision of SG leads to environmentally friendly solution
with better reliability of supply. However, the challenges
included integration withconsumers,serviceproviders, new
technologies developers are still to overcome and provide
safe, secure, self healed and resilient operation of SG.
4. CONCLUSION
In this paper, the review of auto healing characteristics of
Smart Grid has been discussed. As Smart Grid is emerging
technology so lot of research work isstill goingontodevelop
the new technologies to enhance the better utilization of
electricity. A pilot project has beeninitiatedbyPOWERGRID
with open collaboration of Electricity Department, Govt. of
Puducherry to develop Smart Grid at Puducherry[20].Thus,
Smart Grid provides efficiency, reliability, safety, security,
and stability to the power sector. Also,itbringsanadvantage
to the consumer by making their participation active.
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