Real-time research lab in the Sundom smart grid pilot

As a critical component in the smart grid, the Distribution Terminal Unit (DTU) dynamically adjusts the running status of the entire smart grid based on the collected electrical parameters to ensure the safe and stable operation of the smart grid. However, as a real-time embedded device, DTU has not only resource constraints but also specific requirements on real-time performance, thus, the traditional anomaly detection method cannot be deployed. To detect the tamper of the program running on DTU, we proposed a power-based non-intrusive condition monitoring method that collects and analyzes the power consumption of DTU using power sensors and machine learning (ML) techniques, the feasibility of this approach is that the power consumption is closely related to the executing code in CPUs, that is when the execution code is tampered with, the power consumption changes accordingly. To validate this idea, we set up a testbed based on DTU and simulated four types of imperceptible attacks that change the code running in ARM and DSP processors, respectively. We generate representative features and select lightweight ML algorithms to detect these attacks. We finally implemented the detection system on the windows and ubuntu platform and validated its effectiveness. The results show that the detection accuracy is up to 99.98% in a non-intrusive and lightweight way.

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Evaluating Latency in Multiprocessing Embedded Systems for the Smart Grid

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14113322 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 3322

Author(s):

Sara Alonso ◽

Jesús Lázaro ◽

Jaime Jiménez ◽

Unai Bidarte ◽

Leire Muguira

Keyword(s):

Operating System ◽

Smart Grid ◽

Real Time ◽

Processing System ◽

The Other ◽

Programmable Logic ◽

Detailed Characterization ◽

Timing Constraint ◽

Time Part

Smart grid endpoints need to use two environments within a processing system (PS), one with a Linux-type operating system (OS) using the Arm Cortex-A53 cores for management tasks, and the other with a standalone execution or a real-time OS using the Arm Cortex-R5 cores. The Xen hypervisor and the OpenAMP framework allow this, but they may introduce a delay in the system, and some messages in the smart grid need a latency lower than 3 ms. In this paper, the Linux thread latencies are characterized by the Cyclictest tool. It is shown that when Xen hypervisor is used, this scenario is not suitable for the smart grid as it does not meet the 3 ms timing constraint. Then, standalone execution as the real-time part is evaluated, measuring the delay to handle an interrupt created in programmable logic (PL). The standalone application was run in A53 and R5 cores, with Xen hypervisor and OpenAMP framework. These scenarios all met the 3 ms constraint. The main contribution of the present work is the detailed characterization of each real-time execution, in order to facilitate selecting the most suitable one for each application.

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System Level Simulation of Microgrid Power Electronic Systems

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10060644 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 644

Author(s):

Michal Frivaldsky ◽

Jan Morgos ◽

Michal Prazenica ◽

Kristian Takacs

Keyword(s):

Smart Grid ◽

Simulation Model ◽

Real Time ◽

Power Converter ◽

System Level ◽

Time Behavior ◽

Operational Parameters ◽

System Level Simulation ◽

Time Operation ◽

The Impact

In this paper, we describe a procedure for designing an accurate simulation model using a price-wised linear approach referred to as the power semiconductor converters of a DC microgrid concept. Initially, the selection of topologies of individual power stage blocs are identified. Due to the requirements for verifying the accuracy of the simulation model, physical samples of power converters are realized with a power ratio of 1:10. The focus was on optimization of operational parameters such as real-time behavior (variable waveforms within a time domain), efficiency, and the voltage/current ripples. The approach was compared to real-time operation and efficiency performance was evaluated showing the accuracy and suitability of the presented approach. The results show the potential for developing complex smart grid simulation models, with a high level of accuracy, and thus the possibility to investigate various operational scenarios and the impact of power converter characteristics on the performance of a smart gird. Two possible operational scenarios of the proposed smart grid concept are evaluated and demonstrate that an accurate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system can be designed.

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A Survey on Vulnerabilities and Countermeasures in the Communications of the Smart Grid

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10161881 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (16) ◽

pp. 1881

Author(s):

Jesús Lázaro ◽

Armando Astarloa ◽

Mikel Rodríguez ◽

Unai Bidarte ◽

Jaime Jiménez

Keyword(s):

Smart Grid ◽

Real Time ◽

International Electrotechnical Commission ◽

Communication Infrastructure ◽

Iec 61850 ◽

Best Effort ◽

Electrical Grid ◽

Informational Technology ◽

Iec 62351 ◽

Time Critical

Since the 1990s, the digitalization process has transformed the communication infrastructure within the electrical grid: proprietary infrastructures and protocols have been replaced by the IEC 61850 approach, which realizes interoperability among vendors. Furthermore, the latest networking solutions merge operational technologies (OTs) and informational technology (IT) traffics in the same media, such as time-sensitive networking (TSN)—standard, interoperable, deterministic, and Ethernet-based. It merges OT and IT worlds by defining three basic traffic types: scheduled, best-effort, and reserved traffic. However, TSN demands security against potential new cyberattacks, primarily, to protect real-time critical messages. Consequently, security in the smart grid has turned into a hot topic under regulation, standardization, and business. This survey collects vulnerabilities of the communication in the smart grid and reveals security mechanisms introduced by international electrotechnical commission (IEC) 62351-6 and how to apply them to time-sensitive networking.

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Real-time demand response with uncertain renewable energy in smart grid

2011 49th Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing (Allerton) ◽

10.1109/allerton.2011.6120322 ◽

2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Libin Jiang ◽

Steven Low

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Smart Grid ◽

Real Time ◽

Demand Response

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A Comprehensive Survey on Cyber-Physical Smart Grid Testbed Architectures: Requirements and Challenges

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10091043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1043

Author(s):

Abdallah A. Smadi ◽

Babatunde Tobi Ajao ◽

Brian K. Johnson ◽

Hangtian Lei ◽

Yacine Chakhchoukh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smart Grid ◽

Real Time ◽

Smart Grids ◽

Data Exchange ◽

Information Technologies ◽

New Technologies ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Future Research ◽

Time Data

The integration of improved control techniques with advanced information technologies enables the rapid development of smart grids. The necessity of having an efficient, reliable, and flexible communication infrastructure is achieved by enabling real-time data exchange between numerous intelligent and traditional electrical grid elements. The performance and efficiency of the power grid are enhanced with the incorporation of communication networks, intelligent automation, advanced sensors, and information technologies. Although smart grid technologies bring about valuable economic, social, and environmental benefits, testing the combination of heterogeneous and co-existing Cyber-Physical-Smart Grids (CP-SGs) with conventional technologies presents many challenges. The examination for both hardware and software components of the Smart Grid (SG) system is essential prior to the deployment in real-time systems. This can take place by developing a prototype to mimic the real operational circumstances with adequate configurations and precision. Therefore, it is essential to summarize state-of-the-art technologies of industrial control system testbeds and evaluate new technologies and vulnerabilities with the motivation of stimulating discoveries and designs. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the advancement of CP-SGs with their corresponding testbeds including diverse testing paradigms has been performed. In particular, we broadly discuss CP-SG testbed architectures along with the associated functions and main vulnerabilities. The testbed requirements, constraints, and applications are also discussed. Finally, the trends and future research directions are highlighted and specified.

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