Pathways to a Smarter Power System

Ozan Erdinc, Akin Tascıkaraoglu

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9780081025925
• eBook ISBN: 9780081025932
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Energy
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Pathways to a Smarter Power System studies different concepts within smart grids that are used in both industry and system regulators (e.g. distribution and transmission system operators) and research. This book covers these concepts from multiple perspectives and in multiple contexts, presenting detailed technical information on renewable energy systems, distributed generation and energy storage units, methods to activate the demand side of power systems, market structure needs, and advanced planning concepts and new operational requirements, specifically for power system protection, technological evolvements, and requirements regarding technology in ICT, power electronics and control areas.This book provides energy researchers and engineers with an indispensable guide on how to apply wider perspectives to the different technological and conceptual requirements of a smarter power system.- Includes concepts regarding conceptual and technological needs and investment planning suggestions for smart grid enabling strategies- Contains new electric power system operational concepts required by industry, along with R&D studies addressing new solutions to potential operational problems- Covers pathways to smarter power systems from successful existing examples to expected short, medium and long-term possibilities

Chapter 1

History of Electricity

Ayşe Kübra Erenoğlu^⁎; Ozan Erdinç^⁎; Akın Taşcıkaraoğlu^{† ⁎} Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
^† Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey

Abstract

In our modern world, we are all surrounded by technology, innovation, and science. Among them, electricity is one of the greatest technological innovations of humankind that has brightened dark corners of the world and changed everything entirely. Today it has become the most widely used energy source that presents an affordable, reliable, and economic way of harnessing the energy in many different application fields. For instance, transportation and communication systems, large factories/facilities, residential end-users, modern equipment, and digital devices are strongly dependent on electricity; it is not possible to think of a world without it. However, most of us have not questioned what its history is and where it comes from.

Electricity is a natural phenomenon that is always around us. Documents such as those reported by the ancient Greeks showed that human beings have been aware of electricity and magnetism since antiquity, based on their observations. These findings provided an important opportunity to advance the understanding of electricity’s nature and paved the way for establishing a systematic and scientific research method. Subsequently, a large and growing body of experiments has been extensively carried out to control/harness the energy in a usable form for our daily life. Notable scientists have made spectacular contributions to extend our knowledge of this phenomenon in the fields of both theory and practice by opening a new scientific horizon. We thus present here the magnificent story of electricity.

Keywords

Electricity; Scientific method; Technology; Research; Experiment

Chapter Outline

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 The Chronological Development of Electricity
  • 1.2.1 Scientific Advancement on Electricity in the 17th Century
  • 1.2.2 Scientific Advancement on Electricity in the 18th Century
  • 1.2.3 Scientific Advancement on Electricity in the 19th Century
• 1.3 Interconnected Electric Power System
  • 1.3.1 Power Plant
  • 1.3.2 Transmission Lines
  • 1.3.3 Distribution Network
• 1.4 Modernization of the Electric Power System With Smart Grid
• References

1.1 Introduction

Electricity is one of the most awesome phenomena and nature’s greatest force that has undoubtedly changed everything completely in the world. It has attracted mankind’s attention for centuries, and a high number of spectacular scientific experiments has been conducted to reveal its mysterious and secret nature. However, in order to understand the basic principles of electricity, it is necessary to figure out the character/construction of atoms as the smallest building blocks of matter. An atom consists of a central nucleus, which is made up of positively charged and uncharged particles, namely protons and neutrons, respectively. Additionally, electrons as negatively charged particles orbit around the nucleus as shown in Fig. 1.1, and the cumulative flow of these free electrons results in electric energy.

Fig. 1.1 Illustration of an atom molecule.

Although many people may believe that electricity was discovered by a scientist, there is no indication of this in the rich history of electricity. In other words, it is not possible to point out when and by whom electricity was discovered, or rather “invented.” Instead, we know that numerous scientists have conducted a considerable amount of experiments to control electricity. The greatest challenge for scientists was to find a way of transforming electricity, which is like a natural resource, and to make it usable for mankind.

1.2 The Chronological Development of Electricity

This chronological investigation is intended to provide the highlights of electricity and magnetism history, considering scientific developments, experiments, and breakthroughs. It can be deduced from texts and reports dating from 2750 BCE that the origins of electricity extend back to antiquity (prehistory), through the ancient Egyptians observing shocks coming from electric fishes (electric catfish, electric eels, etc.). They called these fish the “Thunderers of the Nile,” and described them as the “protectors” of all other fish. In addition, these shockwaves were used to treat patients’ illnesses such as headache and gout, which was reported in later times by ancient Greek, Roman and Arabic physicians and ancient writers [1]. Electrical phenomena were also studied by Thales of Miletus, the first scientist to recognize the electrical properties of amber, in around 600 BCE. He observed the static electricity in the nature with his experiment. According to this experiment, when amber was rubbed with clothes, this enabled it to attract light objects such as feathers and straw, as illustrated in Fig. 1.2. Moreover, Thales carried out some experiments on lodestone and was aware of its magnetic properties that could attract iron, as shown in Fig. 1.3. His findings provided a significant contribution in the understanding of electricity for many hundreds of years together with his series of observations [1].

Fig. 1.2 Static electricity experiment with amber and cloth.

Fig. 1.3 Naturally magnetized mineral of loadstone.

1.2.1 Scientific Advancement on Electricity in the 17th Century

The 17th century was the most crucial era in the history of electricity. William Gilbert, often credited as the father of electricity, published in 1600 his famous book De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, et de Magno Magnete Tellure, which comprised his first scientific and systematic research and previous literature about electricity and magnetism and their natural manifestations [2]. He was the first scientist to use the terms “electric attraction,” “electric force,” and “magnetic pole” [3]. Thus, this book marked a crucial turning point and the end of the ideas and feelings era, and the beginning of the experiments, theories, and inventions era. Therefore, Gilbert was apparently accepted as the pioneer and founder of the experimental method. In addition, he coined the Latin word electricus from the Greek term for amber: electron (ἤλɛκτρον) [4]. Otto von Guericke and Robert Boyle, who were educated and inspired by William Gilbert, contributed to expanding knowledge about electricity with their investigations. The presence of a vacuum was proved by Guericke and he created a partial vacuum in 1650, which was a significant phenomenon particularly for further electronic research. In 1660, he went on to invent the electrostatic generator, which soon began to be used broadly and became a fundamental instrument of scientific experiments [5]. Robert Boyle, as a contemporary of Guericke, performed experiments and showed that electric forces could be transmitted through a vacuum after the second half of the 17th century [6].

1.2.2 Scientific Advancement on Electricity in the 18th Century

In the 18th century, which covered part of the Age of Enlightenment, it can be seen that studies on this subject were limited to static electricity. Some of the most prominent scientists of that age were natural philosopher Francis Hauksbee, physicist Pieter Van Musschenbroek, and scientist Benjamin Franklin, who worked to expand knowledge of the electric technology by increasing the number of experiments in the scientifically productive environment.

In the first decade of the 18th century, there was a significant occasion in the Royal Society and one of the well-known demonstrations of proving existence of electricity, shown with a striking experiment by Francis Hauksbee. He built a static electricity generator, which includes a glass globe that could be accelerated and spun rapidly, allowing electric charges to be produced and as a result sparkling light inside the globe, by rubbing the glass globe with a hand. It had a spectacular effect on other scientists and they were stunned after this experimentation. Subsequently, Hauksbee’s papers were published in the Society’s Philosophical Transactions and also Physico-Mechanical Experiments on Various Subjects consisting of his findings published in 1709, which was widely read in the 18th century [7]. His studies paved the way for other scientists to conduct widely known inventions at that time, namely Charles Francois Du Fay, Pieter Van Musschenbroek, and ...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contributors
• Preface
• Chapter 1: History of Electricity
• Chapter 2: Energizing Renewable Energy Systems and Distribution Generation
• Chapter 3: Energy Storage in Smart Grids
• Chapter 4: Smart Meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure
• Chapter 5: Energizing Demand Side Participation
• Chapter 6: Evolving New Market Structures
• Chapter 7: Better Transmission Networks for a Smarter Global System
• Chapter 8: Power Quality in Smart Grids
• Chapter 9: Smarter Solutions Based on Power Electronics
• Chapter 10: A Survey of Recent Developments and Requirements for Modern Power System Control
• Chapter 11: New Protection Schemes in Smarter Power Grids With Higher Penetration of Renewable Energy Systems
• Chapter 12: ICT Requirements and Recent Developments
• Chapter 13: Data Security in the Smart Grid Environment
• Chapter 14: The Socio-Economic Challenges of Smart Grids
• Index