Thilo Sauter

Future Energy Systems: Integrating Renewable Energy Sources into the Smart Power Grid Through Industrial Electronics

This paper discusses about integrating renewable energy sources into the smart power grid through industrial electronics. This paper discusses photovoltaic power, wind energy conversion, hybrid energy systems, and tidal energy conversion.

End-to-End Communication Architecture for Smart Grids

Smart grids heavily depend on communication in order to coordinate the generation, distribution, and consumption of energy-even more so if distributed power plants based on renewable energies are taken into account. Given the variety of communication partners, a heterogeneous network infrastructure consisting of IP-based and suitable field-level networks is the most appropriate solution. This paper investigates such a two-tier infrastructure and possible field-level networks with particular attention to metering and supervisory control and data acquisition applications. For the problem of network integration, a combination of gateway and tunneling solutions is proposed which allows a semitransparent end-to-end connection between application servers and field nodes. The feasibility of the approach and implementation details are discussed at the example of powerline communication and IP-based networks investigated in the European research project on real-time energy management via powerlines and internet. Nevertheless, it is shown that the communication architecture is versatile enough to serve as a generic solution for smart grids.

The Three Generations of Field-Level Networks—Evolution and Compatibility Issues

Field-level networks have been one of the keys to modern automation systems. Be it in factory, process, or building automation, networks allow for horizontal and vertical integration of distributed devices and functions. This paper reviews the evolution of field-level networks comprising fieldbus systems, industrial Ethernet, and recent industrial wireless networks. The main focus is on demonstrating the continuity in the development of the three generations that ensured backward compatibility at the expense of radical innovation. Given the wide set of modern communication technologies, this paper then discusses how architectures for future automation networks might look. Particular emphasis is put on hybrid architectures for combined wired/wireless networks. A generic concept for integration of multiple wireless segments will be presented that supports seamless roaming for mobile nodes in industrial environment.

Towards new hybrid networks for industrial automation

In factory communication systems, wireless networks are likely to complement wired automation networks, rather than replacing them. There is therefore an increasing interest in the way wireless and wired systems will interact and form a hybrid network. The hybrid network architecture proposed in this paper specifically addresses WLAN infrastructures in industrial environments. The paper discusses design challenges and describes the proposed system architecture and its main components.

Quality of service concerns in IP-based control systems

The popularity of network-based control systems (NBCS) is continuously growing. One of the most intriguing aspects is the transportation of control network data over IP-based networks using accepted standards such as EIA-852. To a large extent the actual quality of control (QoC) in such systems depends on the network timing such as delay and delay jitter. This paper presents a classification of relevant quality of service parameters and identifies application classes. Subsequently, the paper focuses on the effect of delay jitter at a fixed mean delay on the QoC. Two sources of delay jitter are identified in IP-based control systems: 1) network traffic induced and 2) protocol induced. As an example of a simple control loop implemented over an EIA-852-based system we investigate how the induced jitter affects the QoC using a time-discrete simulation model. Conclusions are drawn as to how the findings in the EIA-852 system can be interpreted and extended to a generalized NBCS.

The Future of Industrial Communication: Automation Networks in the Era of the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0

With the introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cyberphysical system (CPS) concepts in industrial application scenarios, industrial automation is undergoing a tremendous change. This is made possible in part by recent advances in technology that allow interconnection on a wider and more fine-grained scale. The purpose of this article is to review technological trends and the impact they may have on industrial communication. We will review the impact of IoT and CPSs on industrial automation from an industry 4.0 perspective, give a survey of the current state of work on Ethernet time-sensitive networking (TSN), and shed light on the role of fifth-generation (5G) telecom networks in automation. Moreover, we will point out the need for harmonization beyond networking.

The continuing evolution of integration in manufacturing automation

Since the wide adoption of Internet technologies in manufacturing automation, integration has become one of the most advertised trends in the field. The concept of integration in automation is by no means new. It was first formulated in the mid 1970s with the computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) idea. Its aim was to integrate several already existing islands of computer-assisted manufacturing subsystems to a comprehensive and transparent, enterprise-wide information processing system. This article sketches the roots as well as the historical evolution of the integration idea and describes the pieces it takes to complete the picture of integration with its horizontal, vertical, and temporal aspects. Emphasis is put on building blocks like networks and their interconnections, middleware technologies, and application software frameworks. Standardization issues are addressed as well as future challenges in the field.

Distributed intelligence for plant automation based on multi-agent systems: the PABADIS approach

To manage the emerging problems of companies in todays economical surroundings a new thinking in control is required. On the level of field control a step to distributed systems based on distributed intelligence is the state of the art. But on the above levels of control, central and therefore inflexible systems are predominant. This leads to rigid control structures unable to react on system changes with respect to machinery and product programme in a fast and cost-saving way. The PABADIS approach aims in solving the mentioned problems by introduction of horizontal as well as vertical flexibility into the control structure. This flexibility is reached by using mobile and residential agents to establish distributed intelligence on the level of manufacturing execution systems and integration of distributed intelligence on the field control level.

Evolution potentials for fieldbus systems

The roots of fieldbus technology are mixed, both classical electrical engineering and computer science contributed their share to the evolution. Typical performance of different fieldbus technologies overlap more and more. Nevertheless striking characteristic features are taking shape. Although on one hand fieldbus technology has meanwhile established itself, on the other hand a large number of problems are still unsettled: the plain ISO/OSI model is no longer sufficient. We have to create new layers to obtain better interoperability. Furthermore, the dramatically increasing complexity of fieldbus applications demands scalable systems. The complexity together with high installation costs make simulations of fieldbus behavior a necessity. Essential driving forces for the development of new concepts come from the area of building automation: the need to reduce the costs of integrating and automating facility management systems, service costs, and the need to reduce energy consumption while at the same time improving its distribution (demand side management systems). The prioritization of real-time data transmission combined with Gigabit switching standards for LANs offers new possibilities. In order to achieve the goals of modern automation, new requirements have to be met: configurable interactions between different fieldbus systems, efficient wireless technologies to increase mobility and facilitate installation, but also plug & play features. A topic of increasing importance are the different possibilities for connections to IP-based LANs, which will partially replace conventional mid-level fieldbus systems. New concepts of implementation, tests and maintenance will make many of today’s concepts obsolete. The

The fieldbus war: history or short break between battles?

Understanding the structure of fieldbus standards means knowing their history. This paper reviews the evolution of international fieldbus standards in the area of industrial automation and demonstrates how the present situation of the IEC 61158 standard with its 18 different fieldbus systems came about. While the fieldbus standards seem to have reached a stable state, the upcoming application of Ethernet in the field of automation might create a similar conflict potential. We discuss the current status of Industrial Ethernet and the related standardization efforts.