In a typical utility control center, there could be hundreds of applications running to take care of day-to-day functionality. In many cases, these applications are custom-built by different vendors. With the expectation for high reliability of the electric power grid, many utilities are increasingly moving towards sharing data with each other and with security coordinators. But this data exchange is hampered by incompatible electrical applications built on proprietary data formats and file systems. Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI‟s) Common Information Model (CIM) was envisioned as a one-sizeits-all data model to remove incompatibility between applications. This research work utilizes the CIM models to exchange power system models and measurements between a state estimator application and sensor web application. The CIM was further extended to include few unique devices from the shipboard medium voltage DC power system. Finally, a wide-area monitoring test bed was set up at MSU to perform wide-area monitoring using phasor measurement units (PMU). The outputs from the Phasor Data Concentrator (PDC) were then converted into CIM/XML documents to make them compatible with the sensor web application. These applications have created advancements in power system monitoring and interoperability

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / In the context of the current modernization process through which the electrical power systems go through, the concept of Smart Grids and their foundations serve as guidelines. In the search for interoperability, communication between heterogeneous systems has been the subject of constant and increasing developments. Under this scenario, the work presented in this dissertation focuses primarily on the study and application of the data model contained in the IEC 61970 series of standards, best known as the Common Information Model (CIM). With this purpose, the general aspects of the standard are exposed and assisted by the concepts of UML and XML, which are essential for a complete understanding of the model. Certain features of the CIM, as its extensibility and generality are emphasized, which qualify it as ideal data model for the establishment of interoperability. In order to exemplify the use of the model, a case study was performed which modeled an electrical distribution network in medium voltage so as to make it suitable for integration with a multi-agent system in a standardized format and, consequently, adequate to interoperability. The complete process of modeling an electrical network using the CIM is shown. Finally, the development of an interface is proposed as a mechanism that enables human intervention in the data flow between the integrated systems. The use of PHP with a MySQL database, are justified because of their suitability in various usage environments. / No processo atual de modernizaÃÃo pelo qual passam os sistemas de energia elÃtrica, o conceito de Redes ElÃtricas Inteligentes e seus fundamentos tÃm servido de diretrizes. Na busca pela interoperabilidade, a comunicaÃÃo entre sistemas heterogÃneos tem sido objeto de constantes e crescentes avanÃos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo e a aplicaÃÃo do modelo de dados da sÃrie de normas IEC 61970, denominado Common Information Model (CIM). Com esse objetivo, os aspectos gerais da norma sÃo apresentados, auxiliados pelos conceitos de UML (Unified Modeling Language) e XML (eXtensible Markup Language), essenciais para a compreensÃo integral do modelo. Determinadas caracterÃsticas do modelo CIM, como sua extensibilidade e generalidade, sÃo enfatizadas, as quais o credenciam como modelo com excelentes caracterÃsticas para o estabelecimento da interoperabilidade. Com o intuito de exemplificar a utilizaÃÃo do modelo, realizou-se um estudo de caso em que se modelou uma rede elÃtrica de distribuiÃÃo em mÃdia tensÃo de maneira a tornÃ-la prÃpria para integraÃÃo com um sistema multiagente em um formato padronizado e, consequentemente, adequado à interoperabilidade. O processo completo de modelagem da rede elÃtrica utilizando o CIM foi demonstrado. Por fim, uma interface foi desenvolvida como mecanismo de manipulaÃÃo dos dados nos documentos XML que possam fazer parte do fluxo de informaÃÃes. A utilizaÃÃo do PHP, juntamente com um banco de dados MySQL, à justificada em decorrÃncia de sua adequaÃÃo de uso em ambientes diversos. Os conjuntos formados pela interface, simulador da rede elÃtrica e sistema multiagente para recomposiÃÃo automÃtica, constituÃram um sistema cujas informaÃÃes foram plenamente integradas.

With the improvements in computer technology, users in utilities expect to receive more advanced functions of their power system management applications by using the data distributed among computer applications. The conventional method of point-to-point interface is not efficient for building large-scale computer systems and is especially difficult for system integration. Integration efforts are carried on to facilitate software applications communicating with others. Defining the same description for a central database and exchangeable data format among applications is the first step for integration. Since current data models in the Common Information Model (CIM) are designed mostly for analyzing the terrestrial transmission power system, they are not sufficient for Shipboard Power Systems (SPS). In order to facilitate software integration in SPS, a fundamentally common semantic for SPS applications needs to be extended from the current CIM. Therefore, these analysis applications for SPS could communicate with each other based on a standard model. In this thesis, a pulsed load model is extended from CIM. This model is a general time dependent pulsed load and the simulation of pulsed railgun load validates the proposed data model. Also, stress upon the power grid caused by the pulsed load is analyzed and the continuous railgun operation is simulated. In addition, new CIM data models are built for passive and active filters to facilitate system simulation and further application. As an active filter is a device that incorporates complicated control strategies, much work focused on finding a general data model to accommodate most common active filters. Finally the simulation for active filter validates the proposed data model.

abstract: With the growth of IT products and sophisticated software in various operating systems, I observe that security risks in systems are skyrocketing constantly. Consequently, Security Assessment is now considered as one of primary security mechanisms to measure assurance of systems since systems that are not compliant with security requirements may lead adversaries to access critical information by circumventing security practices. In order to ensure security, considerable efforts have been spent to develop security regulations by facilitating security best-practices. Applying shared security standards to the system is critical to understand vulnerabilities and prevent well-known threats from exploiting vulnerabilities. However, many end users tend to change configurations of their systems without paying attention to the security. Hence, it is not straightforward to protect systems from being changed by unconscious users in a timely manner. Detecting the installation of harmful applications is not sufficient since attackers may exploit risky software as well as commonly used software. In addition, checking the assurance of security configurations periodically is disadvantageous in terms of time and cost due to zero-day attacks and the timing attacks that can leverage the window between each security checks. Therefore, event-driven monitoring approach is critical to continuously assess security of a target system without ignoring a particular window between security checks and lessen the burden of exhausted task to inspect the entire configurations in the system. Furthermore, the system should be able to generate a vulnerability report for any change initiated by a user if such changes refer to the requirements in the standards and turn out to be vulnerable. Assessing various systems in distributed environments also requires to consistently applying standards to each environment. Such a uniformed consistent assessment is important because the way of assessment approach for detecting security vulnerabilities may vary across applications and operating systems. In this thesis, I introduce an automated event-driven security assessment framework to overcome and accommodate the aforementioned issues. I also discuss the implementation details that are based on the commercial-off-the-self technologies and testbed being established to evaluate approach. Besides, I describe evaluation results that demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the approaches. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Computer Science 2014

<p>U ovom radu su istraživane semantičke veb tehnologije i njihova<br />primena u elektroenergetskim sistemima. Analizirani su CIM<br />standardi usvojeni od strane IEC-a (61970-501 i 61970-552) i njihova<br />ograničenja, razmatrana postojeća CIM metodologija zasnovana na<br />ovim standardima i dati predlozi za unapređenje ove metodologije<br />u skladu sa tekućim dostignućima u polju semantičkih veb<br />tehnologija. Istovremeno je razmatrana modularnost veb aplikacija<br />baziranih na CIM modelu podataka sa stanovišta semantičkog veba i<br />dat predlog modularne arhitekture veb aplikacija koja se oslanja na<br />CIM semantiku.</p> / <p>This paper explores the semantic web technologies and their application<br />in power systems. It also analyzes CIM standards adopted by IEC (61970-<br />501 and 61970-552) and their limitations, assesses the existing CIM<br />methodology based on these standards and provides suggestions for<br />improving this methodology in accordance with the current achievements<br />in the field of semantic web technologies. At the same time, the modularity<br />of web applications based on the CIM data model was considered from the<br />semantic web standpoint and the proposal of a modular web application<br />architecture based on the CIM semantics was given.</p>

Aging infrastructure and personnel, combined with stricter financial constraints has put maintenance, or more popular Asset Management, at the top of the agenda for most power utilities. At the same time the industry reports that this area is not properly supported by information systems. Today’s power utilities have very comprehensive and complex portfolios of information systems that serve many different purposes. A common problem in such heterogeneous system architectures is data management, e.g. data in the systems do not represent the true status of the equipment in the power grid or several sources of data are contradictory. The research presented in this thesis concerns how this industrial problem can be better understood and approached by novel use of the ontology standardized in the Common Information Model defined in IEC standards 61970 &amp; 61968. The theoretical framework for the research is that of data management using ontology based frameworks. This notion is not new, but is receiving renewed attention due to emerging technologies, e.g. Service Oriented Architectures, that support implementation of such ontological frameworks. The work presented is empirical in nature and takes its origin in the ontology available in the Common Information Model. The scope of the research is the applicability of the CIM ontology, not as it was intended i.e. in systems integration, but for analysis of business processes, legacy systems and data. The work has involved significant interaction with power distribution utilities in Sweden, in order to validate the framework developed around the CIM ontology. Results from the research have been published continuously, this thesis consists of an introduction and summary and papers describing the main contribution of the work. The main contribution of the work presented in this thesis is the validation of the proposition to use the CIM ontology as a basis for analysis existing legacy systems. By using the data models defined in the standards and combining them with established modeling techniques we propose a framework for information system management. The framework is appropriate for analyzing data quality problems related to power systems maintenance at power distribution utilities. As part of validating the results, the proposed framework has been applied in a case study involving medium voltage overhead line inspection. In addition to the main contribution, a classification of the state of the practice system support for power system maintenance at utilities has been created. Second, the work includes an analysis and classification of how high performance Wide Area communication technologies can be used to improve power system maintenance including improving data quality. / QC 20100614

As open access market principles are applied to power systems, significant changes are happening in their planning, operation and control. In the emerging marketplace, systems are operating under higher loading conditions as markets focus greater attention to operating costs than stability and security margins. Since operating stability is a basic requirement for any power system, there is need for newer tools to ensure stability and security margins being strictly enforced in the competitive marketplace. This dissertation investigates issues associated with incorporating voltage security into the unbundled operating environment of electricity markets. It includes addressing voltage security in the monitoring, operational and planning horizons of restructured power system. This dissertation presents a new decomposition procedure to estimate voltage security usage by transactions. The procedure follows physical law and uses an index that can be monitored knowing the state of the system. The expression derived is based on composite market coordination models that have both PoolCo and OpCo transactions, in a shared stressed transmission grid. Our procedure is able to equitably distinguish the impacts of individual transactions on voltage stability, at load buses, in a simple and fast manner. This dissertation formulates a new voltage stability constrained optimal power flow (VSCOPF) using a simple voltage security index. In modern planning, composite power system reliability analysis that encompasses both adequacy and security issues is being developed. We have illustrated the applicability of our VSCOPF into composite reliability analysis. This dissertation also delves into the various applications of voltage security index. Increasingly, FACT devices are being used in restructured markets to mitigate a variety of operational problems. Their control effects on voltage security would be demonstrated using our VSCOPF procedure. Further, this dissertation investigates the application of steady state voltage stability index to detect potential dynamic voltage collapse. Finally, this dissertation examines developments in representation, standardization, communication and exchange of power system data. Power system data is the key input to all analytical engines for system operation, monitoring and control. Data exchange and dissemination could impact voltage security evaluation and therefore needs to be critically examined.

<p>Општи информациони модел (CIM) користи се за опис електроенергетске мреже и за размену података између оператера преносних електроенергетских система. Како је модел постајао све заступљенији, појавила се потреба за његовим складиштењем. У раду је развијен методолошки приступ за развој базе података која би подржала релативно једноставно складиштење и рад са инстанцама CIM модела, које описују тренутно, активно стање у систему. Такође, омогућено је и праћење претходних, историјских стања CIM инстанци, као и њихова рестаурација у жељено стање. Очекује се да предложени приступ олакша увођење CIM модела у различита, наменска програмска решења.</p> / <p>Opšti informacioni model (CIM) koristi se za opis elektroenergetske mreže i za razmenu podataka između operatera prenosnih elektroenergetskih sistema. Kako je model postajao sve zastupljeniji, pojavila se potreba za njegovim skladištenjem. U radu je razvijen metodološki pristup za razvoj baze podataka koja bi podržala relativno jednostavno skladištenje i rad sa instancama CIM modela, koje opisuju trenutno, aktivno stanje u sistemu. Takođe, omogućeno je i praćenje prethodnih, istorijskih stanja CIM instanci, kao i njihova restauracija u željeno stanje. Očekuje se da predloženi pristup olakša uvođenje CIM modela u različita, namenska programska rešenja.</p> / <p>Common Information Model (CIM) is used for describing power grid networks<br />and data exchange among transmission system operators (TSO). As the<br />model became widely used, there was a need to store such model. In this<br />thesis we present a methodological approach to development of a database<br />that supports relatively easy storing and managing CIM instances, which<br />describe current, active state of the system. Also, tracking changes and<br />restoring CIM instances to its previous states are supported. We expect that<br />such methodological approach would ease the implementation of CIM model<br />in various, domain specific software solutions.</p>

Historically, the United States (US) electric grid has been a stable one-way power delivery infrastructure that supplies centrally-generated electricity to its predictably consuming demand. However, the US electric grid is now undergoing a huge transformation from a simple and static system to a complex and dynamic network, which is starting to interconnect intermittent distributed energy resources (DERs), portable electric vehicles (EVs), and load-altering home automation devices, that create bidirectional power flow or stochastic load behavior. In order for this grid of the future to effectively embrace the high penetration of these disruptive and fast-responding digital technologies without compromising its safety, reliability, and affordability, plug-and-play interoperability within the field area network must be enabled between operational technology (OT), information technology (IT), and telecommunication assets in order to seamlessly and securely integrate into the electric utility's operations and planning systems in a modular, flexible, and scalable fashion. This research proposes a potential approach to simplifying the translation and contextualization of operational data on the electric grid without being routed to the utility datacenter for a control decision. This methodology integrates modern software technology from other industries, along with utility industry-standard semantic models, to overcome information siloes and enable interoperability. By leveraging industrial engineering tools, a framework is also developed to help devise a reference architecture and use-case application process that is applied and validated at a US electric utility.