Real-Time Smartgrid Applications

The flexibility of the IncSys and PowerData software allows for incremental add-ons to your existing EMS to meet the changing real-time operational needs, including:

CONTIGENCY ANALYSIS

These real-time tools are developed at a fraction of the cost because they do not require an overhaul of your existing EMS. You can simply add these applications on top of the existing model and begin running these advanced apps.

Need: Outdated EMS and SCADA software are not providing the best data or tools for the operator decision making.

Evolution: Advanced tools and applications are essential to the successful migration to Smart Grid technologies.

Solution: Third-party applications running alongside an existing EMS provides organizations with instant access to the cutting edge software tools needed to operate effectively.

HOW IT WORKS » Power Application Computing Environment (PACE)

The closed and proprietary nature of Energy Management Systems has limited the choices of customers for integrating third party applications. In response to this challenge, IncSys and PowerData developed the PACE software which allows companies to simply add-on third party applications to the existing EMS.

PACE was originally designed to help with the integration of PowerSimulator as a training tool that complements an existing EMS and Dispatcher Training Simulator. IncSys has worked with customers to continually drive down the cost of maintaining the database and displays for a separate PowerSimulator system in parallel with the EMS and DTS.

The Custom PowerSimulator has proved to be an ideal environment for demonstrating the benefits of adding new applications and visualization methods to an existing Energy Management System.

NEXT STEPS » PACE makes real-time applications run

The PACE (Power Application Computing Environment) is also adapted to support real-time monitoring and control of the actual power distribution networks.

The operation of PACE for real-time monitoring is similar to the operation of PowerSimulator. The state of the power network will be shown on System Maps, station one-line diagrams and tabular displays.

With the success of PowerSimulator, we have proved that third-party applications can work with the existing EMS. Without the need for EMS adjustments, these tools can be implemented quickly and will run effectively, making them an operator’s dream.

The NEED for better TOOLS for Smart Grid Migration

The term Smart Grid can cover a wide variety of technologies and functions ranging from home automation systems to interconnection wide phasor monitoring systems. The emphasis of the IncSys Smart Grid initiative is on development of Smart Grid functions that require integrated control of generation, transmission, distribution and customer premises.

The Smart Grid will require improved interfaces and analytical methods, to support operator decision-making. System operators will play an even more vital role as they supervise more sophisticated control systems that actively manage systems with tighter transmission and generation reserve margins.

Existing Energy Management Systems have been designed around the concept that the power system can operate in one of four states. (See diagram) In the normal secure state all equipment is operating within limits and no single or probable double contingencies will cause real-time operating limit violations. In the normal insecure state, all equipment is operating within real-time limits but one or more single or probable double contingencies will cause operating limit violations. In the emergency state some equipment is operating outside of its real-time operating limits. The restorative state occurs when there has been a major outage of generation, transmission and customer load.

The restorative state may be entered as a result of contingencies that cause loss of customer load or as a result of deliberate control actions to shed load and / or generation in a portion of the system. Control actions in the restorative state should be designed to transition the system back to the normal state but could inadvertently transition the system to an emergency state. EMS applications focus on providing operator decision making tools for the normal secure and normal insecure states.

There are few real-time tools that have been designed to support operator decision making in the emergency and restorative states. There are also few tools that can prepare the system or operator to handle extreme contingencies.

Energy Management Systems have evolved slowly over the last twenty five years. The core specifications for functions such as SCADA, alarming, state estimator and contingency analysis have not changed significantly. These functions now run on much lower cost computers and use higher resolution displays for showing system maps and station diagrams. Many application codes written in the early 1980’s are still running today.

The rate of evolution of Energy Management Systems has to accelerate if Smart Transmission Grids are to be deployed by 2020.

Responding to this need, IncSys has developed operator decision tools which can come alongside existing EMS systems to give operators the sophisticated tools they need to make the complicated decisions much easier.