A Methodology for Modeling Interoperability of Smart Sensors in Smart Grids.

Smart sensors in smart grids provide real-time data and status of bidirectional flows of energy for monitoring, protection, and control of grid operations to improve reliability and resilience. Smart sensor data interoperability is a major challenge for smart grids. This paper proposes a methodology for modeling interoperability of smart sensors in terms of interactions using labeled transition systems and finite state processes in order to quantitatively and automatically measure and assess the interoperability, identify and resolve interoperability issues, and improve interoperability. A generic interoperability model of synchronous message passing from a sender to a receiver is built based on the proposed methodology. A case study is provided to apply this methodology for modeling interoperability between the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers C37.118 phasor measurement unit-based smart sensors and phasor data concentrators. The interoperability model can be used for the quantitative and automated measurement and assessment of the interoperability of phasor measurement unit-based smart sensors and phasor data concentrators to address interoperability issues. This methodology can also be applied to modeling interoperability of smart sensors based on other standard communication protocols in order to achieve and assure sensor data interoperability in smart grids.

Smart Sensors and Standard-Based Interoperability in Smart Grids.

Smart grids (SGs) are electrical power grids that apply information, advanced networking, and real-time monitoring and control technologies to lower costs, save energy, and improve security, interoperability, and reliability. Smart sensors (SSs) can provide real-time data and status of the grids for real-time monitoring, protection, and control of grid operations. Sensor data exchange and interoperability are major challenges for the SGs. This paper describes sensing, timing, intelligence, and communication requirements of sensors for the SGs and proposes a general model of the SSs for SGs based on these requirements. Then it illustrates, how the model works with phasor measurement unit (PMU)- and merging unit-based SSs deployed in the SGs with standardized interfaces to support the interoperability of the SSs. Furthermore, to address the interoperability issues, this paper describes sensor interface standards used in the SGs and the need for interoperability testing, and proposes a passive interoperability test method for the SSs to achieve and assure sensor data interoperability. To verify this test method, an interoperability test system for the PMU-based SSs was developed and presented. Interoperability test results of eight commercial PMU-based SSs are provided to show that the proposed interoperability test method works.

Software-defined Radio Based Measurement Platform for Wireless Networks.

End-to-end latency is critical to many distributed applications and services that are based on computer networks. There has been a dramatic push to adopt wireless networking technologies and protocols (such as WiFi, ZigBee, WirelessHART, Bluetooth, ISA100.11a, etc.) into time-critical applications. Examples of such applications include industrial automation, telecommunications, power utility, and financial services. While performance measurement of wired networks has been extensively studied, measuring and quantifying the performance of wireless networks face new challenges and demand different approaches and techniques. In this paper, we describe the design of a measurement platform based on the technologies of software-defined radio (SDR) and IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for evaluating the performance of wireless networks.