Carnegie Mellon University

Electrical and Computer Engineering

College of Engineering

Course Information

18-618: Smart Grids and Future Electric Energy Systems

Units:

12

Description:

The course offers an advanced presentation of modern electric power systems, starting from a brief review of their structure and their physical components, through modeling, analysis, computation, sensing and control concepts. Great care is taken to avoid presenting "practical" techniques built on dubious theoretical foundations and also to avoid building elaborate "mathematical" models whose physical validity and relevance may be questionable. Mastering both principles and relevant models is important for those who wish to seriously understand how today's electric power grids work and their challenging technical issues. This prepares students for working on applying many novel information processing concepts for designing and operating more reliable, secure, and efficient electric energy systems.
Students interested in both applied physics and signals and systems should consider taking this subject. Once the fundamentals of today's power systems are understood, it becomes possible to consider the role of smart electric power grids in enabling evolution of future electric energy systems. Integration of intermittent energy resources into the existing grid by deploying distributed sensors and actuators at the key locations throughout the system (network, energy sources, consumers) and changes in today's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for better performance become well-posed problems of modeling, sensing and controlling complex dynamic systems. This opens opportunities to many innovations toward advanced sensing and actuation for enabling better physical performance.
Modeling, sensing and control fundamentals for possible next generation SCADA in support of highly distributed operations and design are presented.
Prior knowledge in 18-418 or 18-771 is highly recommended.


Last Modified: 2020-07-14 3:14PM

Semesters offered:

  • Fall 2020
  • Fall 2019
  • Fall 2018
  • Fall 2017
  • Fall 2015
  • Fall 2014
  • Fall 2013
  • Spring 2013
  • Spring 2012
  • Spring 2010
  • Spring 2009