- Smart Grid - Home
- Smart Grid Introduction
- What is an Electric Grid?
- Electric Grid Evolution
- What is a Smart Grid?
- Smart Grid - Functions
- Smart Grid - Characteristics
- Smart Grid - Advantages
- Smart Grid - Components
- Smart Grid - Challenges
- Smart Grid Technologies
- Smart Energy Resources
- Power System Automation
- Smart Substations
- Substation Automation
- Smart Grid - Feeder Automation
- Energy Management System
- Smart Grid - FACTS
- HVDC Transmission
- Wide Area Monitoring
- SCADA in Smart Grid
- Smart Grid - DMS
- Smart Grid - OMS
- Volt/VAR Control
- Smart Grid - FMSR
- Smart Grid - HEDT
- Phase Shifting Transformers
- Smart Grid - PHEV
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure
- Smart Meters - Introduction
- Smart Meters - AMI
- Smart Meters - AMIS
- Communication Architecture
- Drivers & Benefits
- Phasor Measurement Unit
- Intelligent Electronic Devices
- Power Quality Management
- Power Quality in Smart Grid
- Power Quality Issues
- Power Quality Monitoring Techniques
- Power Quality Conditioners
- Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
- Power Quality Audit
- Smart Grid Communication
- Smart Grid Communication
- Communication Network
- Communication Technologies
- Broadband Over Power Line
- Internet Protocols
- Web Services in Smart Grid
- Cloud Computing
- Multi Agent System Technology
- IP Based Protocols
- Cyber Security
Multi Agent System Technology
Multi Agent System (MAS) is a digital communication based powerful technology which is designed to manage todays complex smart grid systems. MAS technology uses digital communication to allow for real-time decision making, grid optimization, and coordination among different grid components.
Read this chapter to learn the architecture of multi-agent system and its role in smart grids.
What is Multi Agent System Technology?
Multi Agent System (MAS) technology is a computational system which consists of various agents working together to complete a desired task.
If we see our smart grids, it includes a variety of functions and calculations to be performed automatically with minimum involvement of human interface. Therefore, the complete smart grid system (combination of hardware and software) is to be designed in a way that it follows the multi agent system technology.
The different components of the smart grid system represent different agents of the MAS technology. All these agents, i.e., components can communicate and cooperate with each other to solve a complex problem and optimize the performance of the grid.
Purpose of MAS Technology in Smart Grid
Similar to any other advanced digital technology, the MAS technology is also meant for improving efficiency, reliability, and resiliency of our modern electric grid. This is achieved as follows −
- MAS technology provides decentralized or distributed control over the system i.e., different functions are performed by local individual agents in the system instead of a central agent. This feature of MAS technology provides faster response time and reduced chances of whole system failure.
- MAS technology offers enhanced flexibility in terms of demand response, generation, and other grid conditions. This is possible because the agents are flexible in adjusting their behavior as per the conditions.
- MAS technology uses distributed agents which are easier to scale by adding additional agents without affecting the existing system.
- MAS technology performs effective resource optimization that improves the energy efficiency, reduces the cost, and enhance the grid performance.
MAS Architecture in Smart Grid
Lets now understand the architecture of multi agent system technology in the context of smart grids. The architecture of the multi-agent system in smart grid consists of several components, where each component performs a specific function.
The typical architecture of the MAS technology in smart grid is shown in the following figure −
It consists of a monitoring and measurement agent which collects the data from various agents working across the grid like system monitoring agents, fault detection agents, diagnosis agents, scheduling agents, and more. The information passes among the agents to take an appropriate action. All these agents constantly monitor the system and implement the management of various grid parameters.
Role of MAS Technology in Smart Grid
The MAS technology is an inherent feature of smart grids and it improves the overall performance of the grid. Being an internal communication method of various components in smart grids, it performs the following key functions −
Self-Healing
MAS technology implements self-heating functionality in smart grids. This feature empowers the grid with automatic detection, isolation, and solution of faults without any human involvement. This reduces the outage duration and minimizes the disruptions.
Consumer Interfacing
By employing smart meters and other similar consumer agents, the MAS technology improves the consumer interfacing in the smart grid system. This feature of MAS technology enhances the interaction between grid and consumers. This helps consumers in monitoring and managing their energy usage.
Attacking Resistance
It is another important role that the MAS technology performs in smart grids. There are various agents implemented in the smart grid system to provide security against cyber and physical threats. This functionality of the MAS technology protects the smart grid from unauthorized access, data breaches, and any kind of physical tampering.
Also, if any kind of threat is detected in the grid, the agents will isolate the compromised part of the grid from rest of the system.
Providing Quality Power
There are a lot of agents provided in the smart grid system to maintain quality of the power. These agents are responsible for continuously monitoring and regulating the voltage and frequency to keep them within a standard acceptable range. The power quality agents also reduce the harmonic distortions in the power supply.
Managing Generation and Storage Operations
MAS technology also plays a vital role in improving the power generation management and storage operations in the smart grid. This function of MAS technology is very important for balancing the supply and demand.
The generation management agents can dynamically regulate the output of power plants depending on the demand in the grid. The storage optimization agents manage the charging and discharging of storage units like batteries to ensure their effective utilization.
Optimizing Assets with Efficiency
In smart grids, the MAS technology also ensures that all the resources are effectively optimized to give their maximum performance. The asset management agents regularly monitor the health and performance of the system equipment like power transformers, transmission lines, alternators and generators, etc. and provide instructions for their maintenance needs and operation optimization.
This function of MAS technology increases the life of the resources and reduces the operational cost.
Conclusion
The multi agent system (MAS) technology is an important component of a smart grid system, as it provides distributed monitoring and control, flexibility in power generation, scalability, resource optimization and more.
The main objective of implementing MAS technology within the smart grid systems is to enhance efficiency, reliability, and security of the grid.