Version 1.

30 August 2016

EH2741
Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

Course Memo
6 ECTS credits

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

P1-2 2016

Overview
Control and operation of power systems is a wide and comprehensive topic including many
different engineering fields ranging from power system instrumentation to power system
modelling and control systems theory. To manage and optimise the control and operation of the
power system, information and control systems are used throughout the power system Actually,
the information and control systems so tightly integrated with the physical power system, that
together they constitute a cyber-physical system.
This introductory course provides a wide perspective on the field, opening for continued studies
in specialised subjects. The course is focused on design, implementation and use of information
and control systems for control and operation of the physical power system. As a framework for
the course, the Smartgrids Architecture (SGAM) model is used to present the many aspects of
communications and control in power systems.

Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to give an overview of technologies and concepts used for
communication and control of power systems in a wide sense, including generation, transmission
and distribution of electric power. After completing the course, the participants shall be able to:

Describe the functions of the primary equipment in the power system that is relevant for
protection, automation and control

Analyze substations and simple power systems in terms of reliability protection,

automation and control needs.

Describe the function and architecture of information and control systems used for
protection, automation and control of power systems.

Describe the function and architecture of communication systems used for information
& control systems for power system control.

Describe the importance of information & control systems for the ability to connect large
amounts of renewable power sources.

Analyze and develop basic systems for substation automation and protection.

Analyze and develop basic information & control systems for system-wide control from
control rooms, e.g. SCADA systems and EMS applications.

Construct a state estimator for power systems.

Describe relevant interoperability standards in the field, such as the Smartgrid

Architecture Model SGAM.

Describe the threats and risks associated with the use of information & control system
for controlling the electric power system, known as Cyber Security.

Prerequisites
The course has no explicit pre-requisities, but it is assumed that course participants have
completed a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, computer science or related topic and
are eligible for studies on the Master level.

Course Structure
The course follows a path from from the physical power system, the primary equipment via field
devices for measurement d control to station level automation systems for protection and
2

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

P1-2 2016

control. Form there the course continues via central level operational systems like SCADA on to
Energy management Systems used for central power system stability and control. The course is
focused on the communication and control systems utilised at the individual levels of the
combined cyber-physical system.
As a guideline and framework for the course, the Smartgrid Architecture Model (SGAM) is used.
The SGAM provides an overview of the communication and control systems ranging from field
level to central application level. In the course, the physical, field and station levels constitute a
first block of lectures and project assignment. The operational and communication layers
constiute the second level of the course, finally the operational and functional levels are covered
in the third block of lectures and assignments. Each course block consists of 2 ECTS credits.
Lectures and Exercise sessions
The lecture series constitutes 15 lectures and 5 workshops covering the entire subject area. There
are also guest lectures whose content will NOT be included in the tests. Participation in the
lecture series is recommended. For each lecture there is recommended reading, either a book
chapter excerpt or scientific articles. It is highly recommended that course attendees read these
texts before the lectures based on the provided reading guidance. Please note that contents from
the reading materials ARE included in the tests.
During the course, voluntary project hours are arranged. During these sessions, the students
could work for their assignments in the classroom and teachers are available to answer questions.
Project Assignment (group)
The project assignment involves two parts, Part 1, Part 2 & 3.
In part 1, students are required to design a substation automation system including selecting
measurement devices, designing protection scheme, and communication substation automation.
Part 1 is concluded with a practical configuration assignment, in which parts of the designed
system is implemented in real controllers
In part 2, students are trained to design an information and communication systems architecture
for communication between substations and control centres using the tools and templates from
the Smartgrid Architecture Model (SGAM).
Part 3 involves designing a State Estimator, which is the key application for Energy Management
Systems (EMS) in Electric Power control centres.
The project is conducted in groups of four (4) students per group.
Power System Control Computer Lab (group)
At the Power system control computer lab, students works in groups to solve set of typical
power system control problems using the power system simulator ARISTO. The lab requires no
specific preparation, and is conducted in the lab at the Department of industrial information &
control systems, Osquldas vg 10 floor 7 (Q building). The goal of the lab is to provide insights
into basic power system control problems.
SCADA & Wide Area Communication Lab (group)
The SCADA & Wide Area communication lab involves configuring a Wide Area communication
network to allow data capture and sending commands to field devices through a simulated
communications network.
3

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

P1-2 2016

This lab is performed at the department lab on Osquldas vg 10, floor 7 (Q building).
Study Visits
Study visits are not completely finalised at this time and more details will be provided during the
lectures.
Tests (individual)
The course also contains two voluntary tests covering the theoretical concepts covered in the
lectures, exercises and projects. The tests are individual, and voluntary. Participation in the tests is
however a pre-requisite for achieving higher grade than E.

Course Administration
All course materials can be downloaded at KTH social and project assignments must be
submitted to [email protected] before 17.00 the corresponding due dates. Course updates,
schedule changes etc. will continually be posted on the KTH social, please check regularly.

Literature
The course literature consists of brand new course book entitled:
Power System SCADA and Smartgrids by Mini Thomas & John D McDonald, available in the
KTH eLibrary,
In addition to this course book, additional reading will be provided either online or as hand-outs
on the lectures. Already now, these include:
A.
B.
C.
D.

Fundamentals of Power System Protection, M. Kezunovic.

Chapters 11.1 and 11.2, Power System Stability and Control,Kundur.
Chapter 2 Power System State Estimation Theory and Implementation, Ali Abur, et.al.
Chapter 2 Intelligent Automatic Generation Control, H. Bevrani, T. Hiyama

Course Schedule
Date, Time
Tuesday
30 August
15-17
L52
Thursday
1 September
15-17
L51
Tuesday
6 september
08-10
ICS Lab

Description
L1

Introduction
Course administration
Communication & Control
in Power Systems.

L2

Power System Control Overview

Power System Equipment
Principles of control
ARISTO introduction
Power System Control Lab
ARISTO Hands-on lab

Computer
Lab

N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

Reading
Ch. 1

Teacher
LN

LN

DB

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

Tuesday
6 september
10-12
ICS Lab
Tuesday
6 september
13-15
ICS Lab
Tuesday
6 september
15-17
ICS Lab
Thursday
8 september
08-10
ICS Lab
Thursday
8 September
15-17
L51
Friday
10 september
08-10
ICS Lab
Tuesday
13 September
15-17
L52

Computer
Lab

Power System Control Lab

ARISTO Hands-on lab

DB

N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

Computer
Lab

Power System Control Lab

ARISTO Hands-on lab

DB

N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

Computer
Lab

Power System Control Lab

ARISTO Hands-on lab

DB

N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

Computer
Lab

Power System Control Lab

ARISTO Hands-on lab

DB

N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

L3

Power System Instrumentation

Measurement devices
D/A and A/D conversion
SGAM representation

LN

Computer
Lab

Power System Control Lab

ARISTO Hands-on lab

DB

N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

L4

Thursday
15 September
15-17
V22

L5

Tuesday
20 September
15-17
V34
Tuesday
27 Sept
08-10

L6

V43

P1-2 2016

Ex 1

Power System Protection

Principles of protection
Protection Zones &
Schemes
SGAM representation
Substation Automation I
Automation Functions
SGAM representation
Substation Communication
Introduction
Substation Automation II
IEC 61850 Introduction
Helinks introduction
Exercise
Substation Design using
Helinks and IEC61850
SGAM representation

LN

Ch 4.1
4.8

LN

LN
WY
WY

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

Tuesday
4 October
08-10
Q33
Tuesday
11 October
15-17
Q34
Thursday
13 October
15-17
M33
Friday
28 October
17.00
Friday
28 October
08.00 10.00
D33, E31, E34
Tuesday
1 November
8-10

L7 - Guest
Lecture

Guest lecture
IEC 61850 and substation
automation systems

Andrea
Bonetti

L8

IEC 61850 continued

Logical Nodes
Common Data classes
Communication Structures

LN

Ex2

Exercise
Substation Design using
Helinks and IEC61850
SGAM representation
Hand-in Project Assignment Part
#1

WY

Project

FMTP

Test 1

Voluntary Test #1

L9

Communication networks I
Communication basics
OSI stack
Wireshark Hands-on

Communication networks II
OSI stack continued
TCP/IP networks
Topologies
Wireshark Hands-on

FH

M33
Thursday
3 November
15-17

P1-2 2016

L10

Q33

FH

Tuesday
8 November
08-10
L51

L11

Communication Systems III

Power System
Communication
Wireshark Hands-on

FH

Tuesday
8 Nov
15 18
ICS Lab
Thursday
10 Nov
15 18
ICS Lab

Lab

SCADA and communication

system lab
N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

WY

Lab

SCADA and communication

system lab
N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

WY

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

Friday
11 Nov
9 12
ICS Lab
Tuesday
15 November
08 10
L51
Tuesday
15 Nov
15 18
ICS Lab
Thursday
17 Nov
15 18
ICS Lab
Friday
18 Nov
9 12
ICS Lab
Tuesday
22 November
15 17
Q31
Thursday
24 November
15 17
L51
Tuesday
29 November
08-10
Q33
Thursday
1 December
15 17
Q31
Tuesday
6 December
08 12
M33
Thursday
8 December
15.00 17.00
L51
Tuesday
13 December
08-10
Q31
Friday
15 December

P1-2 2016

Lab

SCADA and communication

system lab
N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

WY

L12

SCADA & Communication

Systems
SGAM recap
SCADA Systems
SCADA and communication
system lab
N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

LN

Lab

WY

Lab

SCADA and communication

system lab
N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

WY

Lab

SCADA and communication

system lab
N.B. Pick one of these 6 slots

WY

L13

Exercise
System architecture Design

LN

L14

Communication Systems V
Cybersecurity

MK

L15

Power system control centers

Energy Management
Systems

Chapter 5
and 6

DB

L16

Power System control applications

State estimation

DB

L17

Power System control applications

Automatic generation
Control

DB

Ex5

Open lab
Question and Answers for solving
Project Assignment part #3

DB

L18

Course Wrap-up

LN

Test 2

Voluntary test #2

FH

Course Syllabus
EH2741 Communications & Control
in Electric Power Systems

15-17
D32, D41, D42
Friday
18 December

P1-2 2016

Hand-in

Project Assignment Part 2&3

Assessment & Grades

The grading of the course is based on the student achievements in the assignments and on the
individual tests.

Each part of the project assignment is graded as Fail, Pass (6 course points) and Pass with
bonus (7-10 course point).

There are two individual tests, participation which is on a voluntary basis. Maximum
score on each test is 15 course points.

The Power System Control Lab is graded as Fail or Pass

The SCADA and Wide Area Communication Lab is graded as Fail or Pass
Course grades are only granted to students who pass all assignments and labs. Grading of the
course is based on the collected course points.
Grade

Course Points

18-24

25-31

32-39

40-46

47-60

Course Staff
The following persons are active during the course
Lars Nordstrm
Course Examiner
Wu Yiming
Course Responsible
Project part 1
Lab responsible
Fabian Hohn
Course Assistant
Project part 2
Davood Babazadeh
Course Assistant
Project part 3