Much of our power infrastructure is approaching or has surpassed the 100 year mark and is showing its age. Because of this our electrical power grid is vulnerable and, in some cases, it has become inadequate to meet current, let alone future demand. One of the newer methods to control our grids is referred to as a ‘smart grid’ and has some unique characteristics. The following factors describe our dilemma.
• Old, 100 years in some cases. It is outmoded and under significant stress.
• Vulnerable to aggression and natural disaster.
• Reliability – the current state of our power structure is very unreliable creating brownouts and rolling blackouts. This costs consumers, businesses and our society billions of dollars annually.
• Critical Infrastructure – the power utilities and the delivery system (grid) are classified as critical infrastructure. Extended loss of which would be catastrophic our security and economy.
• Timeworn Grid does not address our the 21st century power needs and challenges.
• Future demand is estimated at 30% by 2030.
• Costs increase due in part to inflation, meeting government standards and fuel restrictions mandating power plants use natural gas. A general push for ‘greener’ renewable energy sources.
• Cost: our electrical bills continue to climb, ever hear of the power company offering a decline or the public utilities turning down an increase?

FPGA Basics

At the heart of the smart grid system is a series of Field Programmable Gate Arrays or FPGA. They are programmable logic devices that can have its internal configuration set by firmware (software). This allows the FPGA to be updated or even change its functionality as required. The firmware can be updated when FPGA is in circuit. Consisting of logic gates, a circuit that may have multiple inputs but only one output. The relationship is built on the logic states or AND gate, OR gate and NOT gate. FPGA not only contain the gates but elements or blocks of memory. Making FPGAs very flexible. The FPGA even allows the smart grid to heal itself.

Intelligent Electronic Devices

As demand increases the use of intelligent electronic devices (IED) to be deployed throughout the system replacing older instrumentation, monitoring and switching gear. Utilizing computer control these devices allow for two-way communications on a network possible. Sensors in each device gather important data to update delivery. This allows efficient control and adjustment at the node level as changes and disturbances occur across the grid.

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Applications

Most utilities use SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) programming to manage their current systems. The new IED and FPGA are designed to integrate with current SCADA systems. Operating in parallel FPGA are not limited to the number of processors present. Each independent process is assigned to an independent and dedicated portion of the chip and functions at an autonomous without an influence from other blocks. Additional processing therefor does not affect performance of that part of the application.
The smart grid Maturity Model was developed by IBM and stewardship handed off to Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute has current stewardship over the model. It is used to assess current smart grid systems.

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As we face the future the case for smart grid systems to service and provide the power delivery infrastructure is increasingly affirmed. Early implementation must access their current systems to plan future improvements and those who haven’t embraced the smart grid are under pressure to due so, as demand continues to soar and the ability to provide in our aging grid is moribund. Advanced Electrical System Corporation can meet all your electrical consulting needs. Contact us today!