Optimization and Control of Smart Grid

Dear Colleagues,

The basic structure of the electrical power grid has remained unchanged for a hundred years. It is a hierarchical, centrally controlled structure that assumes that power is generated solely from large central facilities. Stability is attained through redundancies and highly controllable generation that reacts to problems, such as demand fluctuations and outages, rather than anticipating and avoiding them. A number of significant developments have upended the assumptions under which the current grid was designed. Demand has risen sharply, and will continue to do so. Alternative sources of energy from renewables, such as wind and solar, are available, but are often distributed, intermittent, and, thus, difficult to control. These developments are forcing a paradigm shift in the structure of the grid. The essence of this shift is that tools of information technology are being introduced to improve the efficiency and stability of the grid, and to facilitate the use of distributed generation from renewables. A future grid, in which modern sensors, communication links, and computational power are used to improve efficiency, stability, and flexibility, has become known as the smart grid. Much of the hardware that will enable this revolution is in development or already exists. Because of new trends to change traditional grids to smart technology, a need emerges for using advanced grid optimization techniques and control systems design which can improve stability and quality of system and increase the efficiency while reducing both implementation and operational costs. Doing this requires development of new control system concepts and optimization techniques considering all real limitations and constraints of dynamical system. With increased use of distributed generation and wireless communications, a need also emerges for more sophisticated methods to address effect of communication delays on performance.

This Special Issue welcomes papers that address:·        

• Development of new control and optimization schemes in smart grids; ·        
• Considering new plug-in devices such as electric vehicles; ·    
• Proposing new classical linear and nonlinear control schemes considering all limitations of smart grids, including different kinds of sources and loads;·        
• Mixture of classical and intelligent control schemes to increase flexibility; ·        
• Studies on micro-grid control down to domestic application.

Dr. Ahmad Fakharian
Dr. Yazdan Batmani
Dr. Ali Moradi Amani
Guest Editors

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