Distinguished Lecturers’ Day at UNIZG-FER

Professor Qing-Chang Zhong, University of Sheffield

NEXT GENERATION SMART GRIDS: COMPLETLY AUTONOMOUS POWER SYSTEMS (CAPS)

Abstract:

Power systems are going through a paradigm change from centralised generation, to distributed generation, and further on to smart grid. A large number of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, energy storage systems etc. are being connected to power systems. Moreover, various loads/consumers are being required to take part in the regulation of power systems and to improve energy efficiency. These make it impossible to manage power systems in the way that has been (is being) done, simply because of the huge number of players in the system. In this talk, an architecture for the next generation smart grids is presented to tackle this challenge and a technical route to achieve this is demonstrated. This standardizes the interface of all electrical supplies, including conventional power plants and new add-ons, such as wind/solar farms, electrical vehicles and energy storage systems, and a majority of loads with the transmission and distribution networks, by exploiting the synchronisation principle of synchronous machines. This architecture opens the prospect of achieving completely autonomous operation of power systems. As a result, the communication and information layer of smart grid can be released from the low-level control.

Biography:

Qing-Chang Zhong is the Chair Professor in Control and Systems Engineering at University of Sheffield, UK, and a Specialist recognised by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). He is a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Power Electronics Society and the UK Representative to European Control Association. He also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of US NSF FREEDM Systems Center at North Carolina State University and the Rolls-Royce University Technology Partnership (UTP) Board in Power Electronics Systems. He obtained a PhD degree in 2000 from Shanghai Jiao-Tong University and another PhD degree in 2004 from Imperial College London (awarded the Best Doctoral Thesis Prize). He (co-)authored three research monographs, including Robust Control of Time-delay Systems (Springer, 2006) and a No 7 Amazon Best Seller Control of Power Inverters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Integration (Wiley-IEEE Press, 2013). He proposed the architecture for next-generation smart grids, which is now widely reported on Smartgrid.IEEE.org, Spectrum.IEEE.org, SmartGridNews.com and the US Science News Radio Network. He is an Associate Editor for IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics, IEEE Trans. on Industrial Electronics, IEEE Trans on Control Systems Technology, IEEE Access and European Journal of Control. His research focuses on power electronics, advanced control theory and the integration of both, together with applications in renewable energy, microgrids, smart grid integration etc. He is a Fellow of IET and was a Senior Research Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering.

Dr. Damir Novosel, President Quanta Technologies LLC

POWER GRID RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS WITH WIDE AREA MONITORING, PROTECTION AND CONTROL

Abstract:

Reliable and efficient electrical grid operation is critical to society. Electrical utility industry is making the transition to new infrastructure with benefits of improving the performance of electric utility systems and addressing the energy needs of society, such as improved reliability, power quality, efficiency and utilization, renewable energy integration, and reduced maintenance cost. This approach requires system and equipment reinforcement, improved integrated system planning and operation, and increased automation. This complex infrastructure requires using the advanced edge technology or “Smart Grid”. The global topic of development and deployment of a “smarter” electricity grid has been at the forefront of industry initiatives and investments around the world for a few years.  Advanced monitoring, protection, and control technologies enable implementation of “smarter” electrical grids to realize the needs of the electricity users for better grid resiliency and performance. Smart grid projects are being implemented around the world addressing the following applications: distributed and renewable energy resources, demand response, AMI, distribution automation, energy storage, and wide area monitoring protection and control (WAMPAC). Holistic approach, from generation to home, is required to fully realize smart grid benefits. Recent increase in a number and size of system blackouts, have shown a need to improve system situational awareness and protect and control the system better. WAMPAC technology enablers, such as system integrity protection systems (SIPS) and synchronized measurements, provide solutions to deploy transmission smart grid and prevent large blackouts. However, system solutions need to be introduced and deployed carefully to ensure good value to the user, effective deployment of technology, and reduced risk of stranded assets.  This presentation addresses methodologies and key success factors for successful deployment of production-grade systems designed to improve reliability. Examples of WAMPAC deployment projects will be presented, as well as innovative applications, such as voltage management. Different solutions for managing voltage stability phenomena methods have different advantages and users should select methods optimal for their system. As real-time, model-free methods are faster but generally less accurate, combination of selected methods provides comprehensive solution for voltage stability issues.

Biography:

Damir Novosel (SM 1994, F 2003) is president of Quanta Technology, a subsidiary of Quanta Services, a Fortune 500 company. Previously, he was vice president of ABB Automation Products and president of KEMA T&D US. Dr. Novosel is IEEE PES President Elect. He served as chair of the PES Technical Council, vice president of technology, and a member of the PES Governing Board from 2010 to 2012. Damir is also member of the CIGRE US National Committee Governing Board. Damir holds 16 US and international patents and published over 100 articles in Transactions, Journals and Proceedings, receiving PES 2011 and 2013 Prize Paper Awards. He has led or participated in numerous IEEE standards, publications and other initiatives, such as keynotes and panels. Damir has been continuing contributor to education, including an adjunct professorship of Electrical Engineering at North Carolina State University, sponsorship of college scholarship programs, and support to industry courses and tutorials. He holds PhD, MSc, and BS degrees in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University, where he was a Fulbright scholar, the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.