The main idea in smart-grid concept is the integration of active communication in the power system. Traditionally, the communication in the power system is more toward the one-way approach. All the instructions of operations are given by the utility and will be operated by the controller at the load side, either by using supervisory control and data acquisition or by other simple means of communication. However, in a smart-grid topology, the load should be able to give the information to the utility or even be able to make decisions based on the feedback provided by the end user. In this chapter, the discussion on the concept of communication integration in balancing the system frequency is discussed. The load demand will adjust the power consumption by changing their operation mode, depending on their frequency condition. The technology in telecommunications has advanced tremendously within the recent decades; we do not have to reinvent the wheel. The same technology, such as the network protocols and standards, can be implemented to the existing power system to add the smart element with the aim to make the system more efficient and robust. Furthermore, the whole world is moving toward connectivity and ubiquity; the best way forward is to embrace this change and synergize the power system components with the telecommunications components to create a smarter and efficient power control system.

Chapter Contents:

• 8.1 Introduction - key components of the smart distribution system network
• 8.2 Distributed energy resources
• 8.2.1 PV system
• 8.2.2 Wind system
• 8.2.3 Electrical vehicle
• 8.3 Distribution grid architecture
• 8.3.1 Smart server and smart regional server
• 8.3.2 Smart appliances and smart meter
• 8.3.3 Types of load in SAs
• 8.4 Key challenges in smart distribution system
• 8.4.1 Supervisory control and data acquisition
• 8.4.2 Protocol stacks of the proposed smart-grid system
• 8.4.3 Message exchange in the smart system
• 8.5 Case study: frequency balance in smart-grid architecture
• 8.5.1 Frequency increase and drop operation
• 8.5.2 Message exchange in frequency operation
• 8.6 Conclusion
• References

Inspec keywords: distribution networks; power consumption; smart power grids

Other keywords: power system; smart distribution system; power control system; power consumption; smart-grid topology; supervisory control; data acquisition; network protocols; network standards; active communication

Subjects: Distribution networks