Diamond interchanges and their associated ramps are where the surface street arterial system and the freeway system interface. Historically, these two elements of the system have been operated with little or no coordination between the two. Therefore, there is a lack of both analysis tools and operational strategies for considering them as an integrated system. One drawback of operating the ramp-metering system and the diamond interchange system in isolation is that traffic from the ramp, particularly if it is metered, can spill back into the diamond interchange, causing both congestion and safety concerns at the diamond interchange. While flushing the ramp queues by temporarily suspending ramp metering has been the primary strategy for preventing queue spillback, it can result in freeway system breakdown, which would affect the entire system's efficiency. The aim of this research was to develop operational strategies for managing an integrated diamond interchange ramp-metering system (IDIRMS). Enhanced modeling methodologies were developed for an IDIRMS. A computer model named DRIVE (Diamond Interchange and Ramp Metering Integration Via Evaluation) was developed, which was characterized as a mesoscopic simulation and analysis model. DRIVE incorporated the enhanced modeling methodologies developed in this study and could be used to perform system analysis for an IDIRMS given a set of system input parameters and variables. DRIVE was validated against a VISSIM microscopic simulation model, and general agreement was found between the two models. System operational characteristics were investigated using DRIVE to gain a better understanding of the system features. Integrated control strategies (ICS) were developed based on the two commonly used diamond interchange phasing schemes, basic three-phase and TTI four-phase. The ICS were evaluated using VISSIM microscopic simulation under three general traffic demand scenarios: low, medium, and high, as characterized by the volume-to-capacity ratios at the metered ramps. The results of the evaluation indicate that the integrated operations through an adaptive signal control system were most effective under the medium traffic demand scenario by preventing or delaying the onset of ramp-metering queue flush, thereby minimizing freeway breakdown and system delays.

Diamond interchanges and their associated ramps are where the surface street arterial system and the freeway system interface. Historically, these two elements of the system have been operated with little or no coordination between the two. Therefore, there is a lack of both analysis tools and operational strategies for considering them as an integrated system. One drawback of operating the ramp-metering system and the diamond interchange system in isolation is that traffic from the ramp, particularly if it is metered, can spill back into the diamond interchange, causing both congestion and safety concerns at the diamond interchange. While flushing the ramp queues by temporarily suspending ramp metering has been the primary strategy for preventing queue spillback, it can result in freeway system breakdown, which would affect the entire system's efficiency. The aim of this research was to develop operational strategies for managing an integrated diamond interchange ramp-metering system (IDIRMS). Enhanced modeling methodologies were developed for an IDIRMS. A computer model named DRIVE (Diamond Interchange and Ramp Metering Integration Via Evaluation) was developed, which was characterized as a mesoscopic simulation and analysis model. DRIVE incorporated the enhanced modeling methodologies developed in this study and could be used to perform system analysis for an IDIRMS given a set of system input parameters and variables. DRIVE was validated against a VISSIM microscopic simulation model, and general agreement was found between the two models. System operational characteristics were investigated using DRIVE to gain a better understanding of the system features. Integrated control strategies (ICS) were developed based on the two commonly used diamond interchange phasing schemes, basic three-phase and TTI four-phase. The ICS were evaluated using VISSIM microscopic simulation under three general traffic demand scenarios: low, medium, and high, as characterized by the volume-to-capacity ratios at the metered ramps. The results of the evaluation indicate that the integrated operations through an adaptive signal control system were most effective under the medium traffic demand scenario by preventing or delaying the onset of ramp-metering queue flush, thereby minimizing freeway breakdown and system delays.

Management of any aspect of life remains the single determining factor for success, wealth, growth and prosperity – this is a general truth. Without an effective management system, nothing will have direction and no milestone can be achieved. The most important management section of any organization is the management on ground level. If ground level management of an organization is defective, the organization will not function and will soon only serve as a reference to a valuable lesson. The sustainability of local government is determined by the same principle, with the success thereof ascribed to the management of infrastructure and processes within a municipality. One such functioning aspect of municipalities is the electrical energy metering system. A wellmanaged and maintained electrical energy management system is one of the few capital resources of any municipality. The electrical supply system can however also be one of many constraints, impeding development if mismanaged. This research study shows the effects of management, or the lack thereof, on selected rural municipalities. Research was done to determine the current state of technology and the associated financial impact on these municipalities. Although it is not possible to generalize, it is evident from this research study that an underlying problem is the lack of proper ground level management. Design science research was used to add value in the form of a capability maturity model for rural municipalities. Such a model can be used to score a municipality in terms of its capability maturity at national level. When applied correctly, this model can be used as a management tool. By the implementation of certain management strategies based on technical principles, the impact of an electrical energy metering management system was also illustrated by this research study. This research study also covers the applied method and results as implemented by several municipalities within the Republic of South Africa. / Thesis (MIng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Management of any aspect of life remains the single determining factor for success, wealth, growth and prosperity – this is a general truth. Without an effective management system, nothing will have direction and no milestone can be achieved. The most important management section of any organization is the management on ground level. If ground level management of an organization is defective, the organization will not function and will soon only serve as a reference to a valuable lesson. The sustainability of local government is determined by the same principle, with the success thereof ascribed to the management of infrastructure and processes within a municipality. One such functioning aspect of municipalities is the electrical energy metering system. A wellmanaged and maintained electrical energy management system is one of the few capital resources of any municipality. The electrical supply system can however also be one of many constraints, impeding development if mismanaged. This research study shows the effects of management, or the lack thereof, on selected rural municipalities. Research was done to determine the current state of technology and the associated financial impact on these municipalities. Although it is not possible to generalize, it is evident from this research study that an underlying problem is the lack of proper ground level management. Design science research was used to add value in the form of a capability maturity model for rural municipalities. Such a model can be used to score a municipality in terms of its capability maturity at national level. When applied correctly, this model can be used as a management tool. By the implementation of certain management strategies based on technical principles, the impact of an electrical energy metering management system was also illustrated by this research study. This research study also covers the applied method and results as implemented by several municipalities within the Republic of South Africa. / Thesis (MIng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Engineering)--University of California, Berkeley, 2005. / "May 2005." Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-66). Also available online via the ITS Berkeley web site (www.its.berkeley.edu).

While the newly envisioned smart grid will result in a more efficient and reliable power grid, its use of fine-grained meter data has widely raised concerns of consumer privacy. This thesis implements a data obfuscation approach to preserve consumer privacy and assesses its feasibility on a large-scale advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network built upon the new IEEE 802.11s wireless mesh standard. This obfuscation approach preserves consumer privacy from eavesdroppers and the utility companies while preserving the utility companies' ability to use the fine-grained meter data for state estimation. The impact of this privacy approach is assessed based on its impact on data throughput and delay performance. Simulation results have shown that the approach is feasible to be used even when the network size grows. Additional adaptations to the approach are analyzed for their feasibility in further research.

O sistema de energia atual passou por poucas alterações desde sua concepção original, há mais de 100 anos. No entanto, a crescente complexidade da infraestrutura e da demanda global por energia vem criando diversos desafios que a sua constituição original não previa, culminando em problemas como apagões e outras falhas no seu fornecimento. Além disso, nota-se nos últimos anos, principalmente nos países desenvolvidos, uma certa diversificação na matriz energética, incentivando a utilização de fontes de energia renováveis e distribuídas. Isto se deve não apenas ao potencial energético das, mas também visando uma menor utilização de combustíveis fósseis, devido tanto a volatilidade e tendência de alta dos preços do petróleo, mas também pela necessidade de contenção do volume de emissões de gases causadores do efeito estufa. Apesar desta defasagem do sistema de energia contemporâneo, avanços nas áreas de informática, eletrônica embarcada, além das tecnologias empregadas na construção de sensores e atuadores, têm possibilitado a criação de uma rede de energia moderna, automatizada e distribuída. Esta rede, conhecida como Mart Grid, traz novas perspectivas no gerenciamento e na operação dos sistemas de geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia elétrica, inserindo propostas que visam melhorar diversos fatores da rede de energia atual, aumentado sua eficiência, segurança e confiabilidade de transmissão, além da eliminação de obstáculos para a integração em larga escala de fontes de energia distribuídas e renováveis. Este novo paradigma é caracterizado por um fluxo bidirecional de eletricidade e de informações, afim de criar uma rede automatizada e distribuída de energia. Ele incorpora à grade os benefícios da computação distribuída e de comunicações para fornecer informações em tempo real e permitir o equilíbrio quase instantâneo da oferta e da procura dos bens energéticos. Dentro do contexto de Smart Grids, Smart Appliances são uma modernização dos aparelhos eletrodomésticos quanto a sua utilização de energia, de forma que estes sejam capazes de monitorar, proteger e ajustar automaticamente o seu funcionamento às necessidades do proprietário e a disponibilidade deste recurso. Ou seja, estes possuem não apenas características de inteligência, mas também a capacidade de utilizarem as informações disponibilizados no Smart Grid para adaptar seu funcionamento. Apesar do grande interesse despertado em torno destes conceitos, há ainda uma enorme carência de padrões e tecnologias que permitam a criação de tais aparelhos inteligentes inseridos nos ambientes domésticos e prediais. Este trabalho tem por objetivo estudar e conceituar o Smart Grid, pesquisando os grupos existentes que buscam uma padronização deste, bem como conceituar Smart Appliances, avaliando projetos e pesquisas existentes, e, principalmente, propondo uma arquitetura que permita a construção de tais dispositivos. Os requisitos necessários para a criação desta arquitetura são discutidos ao longo da dissertação, bem como as tecnologias necessárias e existentes para permitir sua proposta. Finalmente, o funcionamento bem sucedido, através de uma implementação da mesma, é demonstrado através de diferentes experimentos, avaliando como as características do Smart Grid podem ser utilizadas para criar aparelhos eletrodomésticos capazes de usarem as informações disponíveis para melhorar seu funcionamento. / Since its original conception, for over 100 years, the current energy system has experienced little changes. However, the increasing complexity of the infrastructure, together with the growing global demand for energy, have imposed many challenges that its original constitution did not foresee, which has resulted in problems such as blackouts along with other energy supply failures. Moreover, over the last few years, some diversification in energy generation has been seen, especially in developed countries, encouraging the use of distributed and renewable energy sources. Apart from the energetic potential offered by those sources, it aims to decrease the greenhouse gases emission volume, in addition to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which tend to increase in price. Despite the lack of upgrades, improvements in the areas of computing, embedded electronics, and technologies employed in sensors and actuators assembly have enabled the creation of a modern automated and distributed power grid. This grid, better known as Smart Grid, enhances several factors of the current power network, bringing new perspectives in electricity management, operation, generation, transmission and distribution. That result in increased efficiency, transmission safety and reliability, additionally eliminating obstacles in large-scale integration of renewable and distributed energy sources. This new paradigm also features a bi-directional electricity and information flow, enabling an automated and distributed energy network that incorporates the grid benefits of distributed computing and communications to provide real-time information and allowing almost instantaneous supply and demand balance of energy goods. Within the context of Smart Grids, Smart Appliances proposes an extension of regular appliances with intelligence and self-awareness of their energy use, so that they are able to monitor, protect and automatically adjust its operation according to the owner's needs and availability of this resource. That is, besides of being smart, they feature ability to use the information available on the Smart Grid to adapt its running behavior. Even though the increased interest around these concepts, there is still a gap of standards and technologies enabling the creation and embedding of intelligent devices in residences and buildings. The present projects attempts to study and conceptualize Smart Grid, surveying existing standardization groups, as well as conceptualize Smart Appliances, evaluating existing projects and research, proposing an architecture allowing the building of such devices. The requirements for this architecture, together with the required and existing technologies to make the implementation feasible, are discussed throughout the project development. Finally, the architecture's successful functioning is demonstrated through an implementation of it, together with different experiments, relying on them to evaluate the Smart Grid characteristics and how appliances can improve their operation based on the information shared throughout the Smart Grid.

O sistema de energia atual passou por poucas alterações desde sua concepção original, há mais de 100 anos. No entanto, a crescente complexidade da infraestrutura e da demanda global por energia vem criando diversos desafios que a sua constituição original não previa, culminando em problemas como apagões e outras falhas no seu fornecimento. Além disso, nota-se nos últimos anos, principalmente nos países desenvolvidos, uma certa diversificação na matriz energética, incentivando a utilização de fontes de energia renováveis e distribuídas. Isto se deve não apenas ao potencial energético das, mas também visando uma menor utilização de combustíveis fósseis, devido tanto a volatilidade e tendência de alta dos preços do petróleo, mas também pela necessidade de contenção do volume de emissões de gases causadores do efeito estufa. Apesar desta defasagem do sistema de energia contemporâneo, avanços nas áreas de informática, eletrônica embarcada, além das tecnologias empregadas na construção de sensores e atuadores, têm possibilitado a criação de uma rede de energia moderna, automatizada e distribuída. Esta rede, conhecida como Mart Grid, traz novas perspectivas no gerenciamento e na operação dos sistemas de geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia elétrica, inserindo propostas que visam melhorar diversos fatores da rede de energia atual, aumentado sua eficiência, segurança e confiabilidade de transmissão, além da eliminação de obstáculos para a integração em larga escala de fontes de energia distribuídas e renováveis. Este novo paradigma é caracterizado por um fluxo bidirecional de eletricidade e de informações, afim de criar uma rede automatizada e distribuída de energia. Ele incorpora à grade os benefícios da computação distribuída e de comunicações para fornecer informações em tempo real e permitir o equilíbrio quase instantâneo da oferta e da procura dos bens energéticos. Dentro do contexto de Smart Grids, Smart Appliances são uma modernização dos aparelhos eletrodomésticos quanto a sua utilização de energia, de forma que estes sejam capazes de monitorar, proteger e ajustar automaticamente o seu funcionamento às necessidades do proprietário e a disponibilidade deste recurso. Ou seja, estes possuem não apenas características de inteligência, mas também a capacidade de utilizarem as informações disponibilizados no Smart Grid para adaptar seu funcionamento. Apesar do grande interesse despertado em torno destes conceitos, há ainda uma enorme carência de padrões e tecnologias que permitam a criação de tais aparelhos inteligentes inseridos nos ambientes domésticos e prediais. Este trabalho tem por objetivo estudar e conceituar o Smart Grid, pesquisando os grupos existentes que buscam uma padronização deste, bem como conceituar Smart Appliances, avaliando projetos e pesquisas existentes, e, principalmente, propondo uma arquitetura que permita a construção de tais dispositivos. Os requisitos necessários para a criação desta arquitetura são discutidos ao longo da dissertação, bem como as tecnologias necessárias e existentes para permitir sua proposta. Finalmente, o funcionamento bem sucedido, através de uma implementação da mesma, é demonstrado através de diferentes experimentos, avaliando como as características do Smart Grid podem ser utilizadas para criar aparelhos eletrodomésticos capazes de usarem as informações disponíveis para melhorar seu funcionamento. / Since its original conception, for over 100 years, the current energy system has experienced little changes. However, the increasing complexity of the infrastructure, together with the growing global demand for energy, have imposed many challenges that its original constitution did not foresee, which has resulted in problems such as blackouts along with other energy supply failures. Moreover, over the last few years, some diversification in energy generation has been seen, especially in developed countries, encouraging the use of distributed and renewable energy sources. Apart from the energetic potential offered by those sources, it aims to decrease the greenhouse gases emission volume, in addition to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which tend to increase in price. Despite the lack of upgrades, improvements in the areas of computing, embedded electronics, and technologies employed in sensors and actuators assembly have enabled the creation of a modern automated and distributed power grid. This grid, better known as Smart Grid, enhances several factors of the current power network, bringing new perspectives in electricity management, operation, generation, transmission and distribution. That result in increased efficiency, transmission safety and reliability, additionally eliminating obstacles in large-scale integration of renewable and distributed energy sources. This new paradigm also features a bi-directional electricity and information flow, enabling an automated and distributed energy network that incorporates the grid benefits of distributed computing and communications to provide real-time information and allowing almost instantaneous supply and demand balance of energy goods. Within the context of Smart Grids, Smart Appliances proposes an extension of regular appliances with intelligence and self-awareness of their energy use, so that they are able to monitor, protect and automatically adjust its operation according to the owner's needs and availability of this resource. That is, besides of being smart, they feature ability to use the information available on the Smart Grid to adapt its running behavior. Even though the increased interest around these concepts, there is still a gap of standards and technologies enabling the creation and embedding of intelligent devices in residences and buildings. The present projects attempts to study and conceptualize Smart Grid, surveying existing standardization groups, as well as conceptualize Smart Appliances, evaluating existing projects and research, proposing an architecture allowing the building of such devices. The requirements for this architecture, together with the required and existing technologies to make the implementation feasible, are discussed throughout the project development. Finally, the architecture's successful functioning is demonstrated through an implementation of it, together with different experiments, relying on them to evaluate the Smart Grid characteristics and how appliances can improve their operation based on the information shared throughout the Smart Grid.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A modernizaÃÃo dos sistemas elÃtricos de potÃncia à nos dias atuais um tema de relevÃncia, com destaque à participaÃÃo do consumidor na geraÃÃo de energia elÃtrica e gestÃo da energia consumida. A automaÃÃo da MediÃÃo Inteligente à uma das principais vertentes e o precursor das Redes ElÃtricas Inteligentes. Considerando-se este cenÃrio, neste trabalho, apresenta-se um software de gestÃo da mediÃÃo inteligente de energia elÃtrica, denominado SGMIee. Trata-se de uma ferramenta computacional, desenvolvida com tecnologias computacionais de cÃdigo aberto e gratuito, utilizada para a aquisiÃÃo, armazenamento, processamento, visualizaÃÃo e gerenciamento das informaÃÃes registradas em uma infraestrutura de mediÃÃo inteligente de eletricidade. A plataforma Java e a estrutura de banco de dados MySQL sÃo as principais tecnologias utilizadas no desenvolvimento do software. O SGMIee tem sido aplicado a um sistema de mediÃÃo inteligente de energia elÃtrica instalado na infraestrutura do Departamento de Engenharia ElÃtrica (DEE), do Centro de Tecnologia (CT), da Universidade Federal do Cearà (UFC). O sistema de mediÃÃo inteligente de energia elÃtrica utilizado à composto por 05 unidades de medidores eletrÃnicos inteligentes trifÃsicos, 01 unidade de interface de comunicaÃÃo sem fio, 01 unidade de interface de comunicaÃÃo via porta Ãtica e 01 unidade de equipamento In-Home Display (IHD). A infraestrutura de mediÃÃo inteligente à baseada em uma rede RF e disposta em uma topologia Mesh, sendo utilizados os protocolos ABNT NBR 14522 e ZigBee para a realizaÃÃo da comunicaÃÃo entre os equipamentos do sistema. Dados coletados de 05 medidores eletrÃnicos, instalados em quadros de distribuiÃÃo de baixa tensÃo nas unidades do DEE, foram utilizados para testar e validar as funcionalidades do software proposto, sendo considerados aspectos normativos nacionais da Ãrea durante as anÃlises dos resultados obtidos. As funcionalidades sobre pÃgina fiscal, consumo, faltas de energia, alarmes e grÃficos foram implementadas no SGMIee, possibilitando-se o gerenciamento energÃtico baseado em dados de mediÃÃes e alarmes consultados de forma instantÃnea ou atravÃs de histÃrico. ApÃs as anÃlises, observou-se que os objetivos definidos para o SGMIee foram atendidos, sendo a disponibilizaÃÃo de uma ferramenta computacional para gerir os dados de mediÃÃes de parÃmetros elÃtricos, integrada a um cenÃrio de mediÃÃo inteligente de eletricidade a principal contribuiÃÃo deste trabalho. / The modernization of electric power systems is nowadays a topic of relevance, with emphasis on consumer participation in power generation and management of energy consumption. The automation of Smart Metering is one of the main aspects and the precursor of Smart Grids. Considering this scenario, this paper presents electricity smart metering management software, called SGMIee. It is a computational tool developed with free and open source technologies, used for the acquisition, storage, processing, display and management of recorded information in a smart metering infrastructure for electricity. The Java platform and structure of MySQL database are the main technologies used in software development. The SGMIee has been applied to a smart metering of electricity infrastructure installed in the Department of Electrical Engineering (DEE), the Technology Center (TC), Federal University of Cearà (UFC). The smart metering system used is composed of 05 three-phase smart meters units, 01 wireless communication interface unit, 01 optical interface unit and 01 In-Home Display (IHD) unit. The smart metering infrastructure is based on a RF network and willing in a Mesh topology, protocols being used ABNT NBR 14522 and ZigBee for the realization of communication between the system equipment. Data collected from 05 smart meters installed in low voltage switchboards units DEE, were used to test and validate the functionality of the proposed software, and are considered national normative aspects of the area during the analysis of the results obtained. The features about summary snapshot of electrical quantities measured, consumption, power outages, alarms and charts were implemented in SGMIee, enabling the power management based on measurement data and alarms consulted instantaneously or through history. After the analyzes, it was observed that the objectives for the SGMIee were achieved and the availability of a computational tool for managing measurement data of electrical parameters, integrated with a scenario of electricity smart metering the main contribution of this work.