Impact of ICT Latency, Data Loss and Data Corruption on Active Distribution Network Control

Abstract

The ongoing changes in modern power systems towards increasingly decentralized systems render the coordination of generation assets and the corresponding dependency on Information and Communication Technology highly relevant. This work demonstrates the impact of three types of ICT errors, namely delayed data, data loss and data corruption, on the control of distributed energy resources in an active distribution network. The settling time of the active power response at the interconnection point between the distribution and transmission system is investigated in the simulations. Additionally, two fallback strategies to mitigate the impact of data loss are proposed and evaluated with regard to their impact on the controller's response. Finally, a generalized, aggregated service state description is proposed in order to capture the performance of the active distribution network service. It is meant to improve the interpretability of the results, which can be used to compare service designs and setups.

ICT Scalability and Replicability Analysis for Smart Grids: Methodology and Application

“…Latency. When an application requires real-time communication, latency is typically the most important factor to take into account, making it the primary performance measure for the system, as it can affect the reliability of the smart grid [21,22] and is an essential requirement when designing control schemes for DER [23]. Scalability requires that as the system grows, latency should remain below the limit set by the application.…”

“…This is an important requirement in all ICT, but especially in those that rely on wireless communications, as the signal may not reach its destination under certain conditions (e.g., weather conditions). Data loss can reduce the stability of the grid [23] and have an economic impact on the grid [24]. A scalable system must be able to maintain high reliability, regardless of size and conditions.…”