Gianluigi Proserpio

Bio: Gianluigi Proserpio is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Interoperability & IEC 61850. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 8 publications receiving 31 citations.

An adaptive, agent-based protection scheme for radial distribution networks based on IEC 61850 and IEC 61499

Abstract: This paper shows a possible implementation for an auto configurable protection scheme based on the well-known logic selectivity concept, using an agent-based architecture with standard communication protocol (IEC 61850) and programming language (IEC 61499). An easy-to-use technique to integrate the two standards is shown, enabling the exploitation of encapsulation capabilities provided by IEC 61499 to provide easy to maintain and reusable code, along with interoperability with 61850-enabled IEDs. The proposed scheme can also implement automatic reconfiguration of protections following network topology changes.

Impact of DER integration on the cyber security of SCADA systems — The Medium Voltage regulation case study

Abstract: The operation of active distribution grids with high penetration of Distributed Energy Resources, connected to Medium Voltage bars and feeders, requires the implementation of new Medium Voltage regulation functions. Assuming that this control function is best positioned in the primary substations of the control hierarchy, the paper presents the architectural changes occurring at both the centre and the substation control levels. Possible cyber risk scenarios and mitigation countermeasures of the new SCADA architecture are discussed, in compliance with the IEC communication standards and the IEC/NIST cyber security technical recommendations related to the smart grid sector.

IEC CIM-61850 harmonization — The logic selectivity case

Abstract: The joint use of the two IEC core standards CIM and IEC 61850 requires the handling of both data models in an integrated way. This paper illustrates a software tool which can automatically derive IEC 61850 device configurations from the topological analysis of CIM networks, for the implementation of logic selectivity between line protection devices. Moreover, the topological analysis is performed by directly manipulating the graph-based knowledge representation format used by CIM, called RDF, using a dedicated query language. This approach can be extended to any CIM-based algorithm. Finally, two complementary simulation environments have been setup in order to test the device configurations.

Looking for the unified classification and evaluation approach of SG interface standards for the purposes of ELECTRA IRP

Abstract: A huge set of Smart Grid related standards already exist and is continuously being updated in various technical working groups in various parts of the world. Ongoing EU-funded ELECTRA Integrated Research Programme (IRP) on Smart Grids [1] aims to re-use the existing standards within its in progress activities considering to be in compliance with the standardization groups like CEN/CENELEC/ETSI, NIST and others. Moving towards the implementation of the functional architecture, it is important to be aware of the information to be exchanged and how communication protocols can be used in support of Smart Grid information exchange. Therefore, a reference method needs to be developed for assessing and classifying the ICT interoperability standards and specifications. The existing Common Assessment Method for Standards and Specifications (CAMSS) is thought to be a tool for Public Administration choices of standards, especially for e-government and e-procurement in EU. Despite CAMSS defines an evaluation schema for standards and specifications via an Excel tool, this paper shows that the CAMSS approach needs to be modified and adapted for the goals of ELECTRA IRP. Moreover, the elaborated tool would not only be useful for ELECTRA purposes but it would be used in a broader Smart Grid (SG) perspective as well and also, with some slight adaptations, more in general, for all complex contexts involving a high number of standards (e.g. the Smart City context).

Integration of power quality information in the framework of a standard semantic model

Abstract: The growing amount of information produced by automatic systems is often associated with the paradigm of Big Data. Next to this approach it remains the interest in integrating information of different origin within a shared framework, conceptually able to be formalized by an ontology. The IEC Common Information Model (CIM) is a natural candidate to take on the role of reference ontology in the electrical context being able to describe different types of electrical domain information (eg. topologies of electrical networks, market information, metering, etc.) in an integrated way. The activities described here have adopted the CIM standard as a reference semantic model for the representation of information gathered from Power Quality (PQ) monitoring of medium voltage distribution networks, in order to demonstrate the possible synergies with the types of information already provided in that model, namely those associated with topological and cartographic information. The result of this integration could also be in perspective leveraged in the context of the deployment of the 2° generation of Italian meters that will include Power Quality data.

Integrated Anomaly Detection for Cyber Security of the Substations

Abstract: Cyber intrusions to substations of a power grid are a source of vulnerability since most substations are unmanned and with limited protection of the physical security. In the worst case, simultaneous intrusions into multiple substations can lead to severe cascading events, causing catastrophic power outages. In this paper, an integrated Anomaly Detection System (ADS) is proposed which contains host- and network-based anomaly detection systems for the substations, and simultaneous anomaly detection for multiple substations. Potential scenarios of simultaneous intrusions into the substations have been simulated using a substation automation testbed. The host-based anomaly detection considers temporal anomalies in the substation facilities, e.g., user-interfaces, Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and circuit breakers. The malicious behaviors of substation automation based on multicast messages, e.g., Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) and Sampled Measured Value (SMV), are incorporated in the proposed network-based anomaly detection. The proposed simultaneous intrusion detection method is able to identify the same type of attacks at multiple substations and their locations. The result is a new integrated tool for detection and mitigation of cyber intrusions at a single substation or multiple substations of a power grid.

Protection of Autonomous Microgrids using Agent-Based Distributed Communication

Abstract: This paper presents a real-time implementation of autonomous microgrid protection using agent-based distributed communication. Protection of an autonomous microgrid requires special considerations compared to large-scale distribution networks due to the presence of power converters and relatively low inertia. In this paper, we introduce a practical overcurrent and a frequency-selectivity method to overcome conventional limitations. The proposed overcurrent scheme defines a selectivity mechanism considering the remedial action scheme of the microgrid after a fault instant based on feeder characteristics and the location of the intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). A synchrophasor-based online frequency-selectivity approach is proposed to avoid pulse loading effects in low inertia microgrids. Experimental results are presented for verification of the proposed schemes using a laboratory-based microgrid. The setup was composed of actual generation units and IEDs using the IEC 61850 protocol. The experimental results were in excellent agreement with the proposed protection scheme.

Engineering Smart Grids: Applying Model-Driven Development from Use Case Design to Deployment

Abstract: The rollout of smart grid solutions has already started and new methods are deployed to the power systems of today. However, complexity is still increasing as focus is moving from a single system, to a system of systems perspective. The results are increasing engineering efforts and escalating costs. For this reason, new and automated engineering methods are necessary. This paper addresses these needs with a rapid engineering methodology that covers the overall engineering process for smart grid applications—from use case design to deployment. Based on a model-driven development approach, the methodology consists of three main parts: use case modeling, code generation, and deployment. A domain-specific language is introduced supporting the use case design according to the Smart Grid Architecture Model. It is combined with the IEC 61499 distributed control model to improve the function layer design. After a completed use case design, executable code and communication configurations (e.g., IEC 61850) are generated and deployed onto compatible field devices. This paper covers the proposed rapid engineering methodology and a corresponding prototypical implementation which is validated in a laboratory experiment. Compared to other methods the proposed methodology decreases the number of engineering steps and reduces the use case design and implementation complexity.

Automated Fault Location and Isolation in Distribution Grids With Distributed Control and Unreliable Communication

Abstract: This paper presents the analysis and simulation of the performance of fault location and isolation (FLI) in an automated power distribution feeder. This system is composed of two coupled networks: a power system consisting of a distribution feeder with multiple load buses, and an unreliable communication network of the distributed intelligent agents in the system, namely, the substation automation and fault protection units separating segments of the feeder. We provide a complete specification of a distributed algorithm for FLI and an exact characterization of the time from the occurrence of a fault to its location and isolation. Both apply to a distribution feeder with an arbitrary number of buses. These models are then refined into a hybrid simulation that combines three models executing in parallel: a power system model based on dc power flow, a distributed automation system model for the intelligent agents constructed using the IEC 61499 distributed automation standard, and an abstract communication network model that unreliably links the physically distributed agents. The results demonstrate the effect of communication network reliability at two levels of design abstraction, the correspondence of results at the two levels, and the use of a modern cosimulation framework to verify the performance of distributed smart grid automation algorithms.