Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Electric power industry is undergoing a period of extraordinary change. Electric power utilities are under pressure to operate more efficiently within a new business and operating environment where different organizations operate separately to handle generation, transmission, and distribution functions that were originally handled by one company. At the same time, modern power systems are being operated closer to their stability and design limits. Also, the desire to integrate renewable energy resources and plug-in electric vehicles has changed the structure of power systems at transmission and distribution levels. This change in power systems' structure and operating practices has necessitated an urgent need for new/improved techniques and technologies for power system protection, automation and monitoring so that reliability, safety and efficiency of the power systems can be maintained and enhanced. Existing protection systems are not always suitable for the 'changing' structure of power systems and challenges posed by the 'new' operating philosophy. The objective of the proposed research is to develop innovative techniques, technologies and devices for protection, automation and monitoring of 'modern and emerging' power systems. The research will aim at achieving reliable and secure protection of emerging distribution systems, improved measurement and transmission of synchronised phasors, a new and economical back-up protection strategy and effective protection during system restoration. In addition to improved operation of electric utilities' systems, the research is also significant for the high-tech, power equipment manufacturers and relay manufacturing industries. The proposed research will contribute towards developing highly qualified personnel desperately needed by the Canadian electric utilities and industries, and so vital for the Canadian economy.