Impact of smart grids on power system protection

Institution: University of Manchester

Dept/School/Faculty: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Power Networks

PhD Supervisor: Prof P Crossley

Application Deadline: Applications accepted all year round

Funding Availability: Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Student background required: 

High calibre Electrical and Electronic Engineering or Computer Science graduate with an interest in ICT and enthusiasm for exciting research and new technology. 

Benefit to / Impact on Industry: 
Project will benefit society by increasing transmission network reliability, reducing the cost of transporting electrical energy and encouraging the connection of low carbon sources of generation. 

What novelty will the student base their PhD on? 
Integration of next generation ICT technology into systems that protect and control transmission networks. Design and demonstration of the concepts, the technology and the systems within a laboratory environment. 

Project overview: 
Project will investigate the impact of smart grids, non-synchronous generation, intermittent energy sources and HVDC on AC transmission network protection systems; and involve the use of the DigSILENT off-line simulator and the RTDS real time simulator, now available in the protection and control “in-the-loop” demo-laboratory. 

Outcome is increased understanding of how existing protection and control systems will be affected by future Power Network changes and how system designs and setting strategies can evolve to cope with the changes. The researcher will also enhance the capabilities of the demo-laboratory and develop a robust and flexible communication and time synchronisation architecture to support investigations into new and existing protection, measurement and control systems. 

Outline of Proposed Project Plan: 
Year 1: Taught courses and preparatory study 
Year 2: Simulation studies to help understand how network changes affect protection systems. Investigation into the need to adapt protection settings to cope with network changes. 
Year 3: Experimental evaluation using a Real Time Power System Simulator of the impact on protection performance of network changes related to smart grids and the connection of HVDC interties, intermittent energy sources and non-synchronous generation. 
Year 4: Formulation of new protection strategies and their evaluation using the real time simulator. Completion of the research and the writing of a PhD thesis. 

Funding Notes:

This project is funded by EPSRC, the University of Manchester and our Industry partners. Funding is available to UK candidates. EU candidates are also eligible if they have been studying or working continuously in the UK for three or more years (prior to the start date of the programme). The successful candidates will have their fees paid in full and will receive an enhanced maintenance stipend. 

See here for information on how to apply and entry requirements: www.power-networks-cdt.manchester.ac.uk/study/projects-apply