Name: Nagum, Carl Joseph, B.

Date: May 3, 2021

Course/Section: TE1-PSE2-EE32S1 Assignment 6.1 Instructor: Engr. Ladero

QUESTION: Discuss the operation of smart grid in power system, what will be the advantage of smart grid? What is
the effect of smart grid in terms of power quality disturbances?

The smart grid operation in a power system is a systematic approach that uses the different features of computer
technologies for monitoring purposes to manage the power from generation to transmission and distribution to meet the
demands of the end-users. In conclusion, a smart grid is a way to make sure that the operation of the power system is efficient,
reliable, safe, and flexible. The salient feature provided by smart meters in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors
is a key component of the smart grid system. These digital meters, which are replacing analog meters which are capable of
two-way communication between producers and consumers, relaying supply and demand information. With the help of smart
meters, the power generation plants can do accurate and precise load forecasting and determine the peak demand periods
by analyzing the data. Therefore, the power generating plants can lower the generation output of power when the demand is
less and quickly increase the generation as the peak load periods approaches, which allows the system to operate cost-
effectively and flexibly.

Figure 1: Overview of Smart Grid Technology retrieved from ELPROCUS

As shown in the figure above, the smart grid operation has communication with the end-users. The communication brought
by the smart meters allows the generation plants to monitor the activities of the grid-connected systems such as the
commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. With this, they can determine the consumer preferences for using electricity,
and provide real-time information about all the events. Nowadays, it is up to everyone’s knowledge that we need to conserve
energy by employing efficient energy consumption. The smart grid operation in power systems helps us to do so because
using digital and advanced technologies, the smart grid can keep track of itself. Without the need for direct interference from
a technician, it can balance power loads, troubleshoot outages, and control delivery. The advantages of smart grid operation
in the power system are the following:

→In terms of technology – Digital technology is used in the smart grid, allowing for improved connectivity between devices
as well as remote control and self-regulation.

→In terms of distribution – Although electricity is still supplied from the primary power plant, in a smart grid system, power
from a secondary supplier can be sent back up the lines to the main plant. Individuals with renewable energy sources, such
as solar panels, will potentially return energy to the grid.

→In terms of generation – Power can be distributed from several plants and substations using smart grid technology to help
balance the load, reduce peak time pressures, and reduce the number of power outages.

→In terms of sensor application – Multiple sensors are mounted on the lines in a smart grid infrastructure scheme. This aids
in identifying the source of an issue and can assist in rerouting power to where it is required while minimizing the areas
impacted by the outage.

→In terms of restoration – Sensors can identify issues on the line and perform basic troubleshooting and repairs without the
need for human interference. The smart grid will automatically report issues with infrastructure damage to technicians at the
monitoring center, who can then begin the necessary repairs.

→In terms of monitoring and controlling – Energy companies now have more control over power delivery than ever before
due to the increased use of sensors and other smart infrastructure. Energy distribution and energy usage can be tracked all
the way down the line, from the power plant to the end user.

The advantages feature of smart grid operation will result to the following:

→It reduces electricity pilferage.

→It reduces electricity losses both in transmission and distribution lines.

→It reduces electricity cost, meter reading cost, and maintenance costs.

→It reduces equipment failures due to automatic operation based on varying load conditions. Demand-Response reduces
stress on assets of smart grid system during peak conditions which reduces their probability of failure.

→It reduces sustained outages and reduces consecutively associated rebuilding and maintenance cost.

→It maximizes the utilization of renewable energy from micro-grid substations, hence smart grid contributes to keep
environment green.
→It reduces oil usage and wide scale black-outs. Hence smart grid provides security to the people by providing continuous
power.

→Smart grid is capable of meeting increased consumer demand without adding infrastructure.

In terms of power quality disturbances, the smart grid operations were able to manage its effects and reduce the time
of interruptions because of the usage of advanced monitoring systems such as Programmable Logic Circuits (PLC) and
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). With the advanced monitoring system, the disturbance that occurs in the
power system can be easily identified and determine its cause so that the smart grid operation can fix it most cost-effectively
and have less impact on the end-users. The smart grid operation can prevent or either reduce the damage of massive
blackouts similar to what happened in San Diego, California last September 8, 2011, when they suffered a blackout due to
the switching of capacitor in Arizona Public Service Company which controls the voltage level. However, a section of a major
transmission line failed, which resulted in a blackout around the city and the estimated lost cost of the outage is 100 million
U.S. dollars. As mentioned above, with smart grid operation the fault can be located easily using the monitoring system and
evaluate the situation to determine how to manage the disturbance efficiently.

However, there are some instances that the smart grid operation can cause power quality issues such as voltage
unbalances and harmonics, especially when switching to alternate sources such as micro-grid substations. Therefore, the
smart grid operation requires additional protective devices to protect the sensitive loads in an increased transient in the
process of switching. It is normal that in the process of transition from the traditional grid to the smart grid, power quality issues
will increase, specifically the harmonics, transients, unbalances, phase shifts, and voltage sags. These are the short-term
effects of the smart grid operation, but once the smart grid is fully achieved, it will result in the long-term goal, which is a more
reliable and efficient generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.

REFERENCES:

→DeFranza, D. (2020, January 27). Understanding Smart Grid Technology. HowStuffWorks Science.
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/smart-grid-technology2.htm.

→Alex, J., & Kumar, S. (2020, June 3). Smart Grid Technology Working Operation and Applications. ElProCus.
https://www.elprocus.com/overview-smart-grid-technology-operation-application-existing-power-system/

→Difference between Traditional Power Grid and Smart Grid. Electrical Academia. (2017, November 19).
https://electricalacademia.com/electric-power/difference-traditional-power-grid-smart-grid/

→Perez, S. (2014, July 5). The Smart Grid Power Quality Power Reliability. SlideServe.
https://www.slideserve.com/salene/the-smart-grid-power-quality-power-reliability