Originally presented on July 23, 2015. To watch on-demand visit: http://ecast.opensystemsmedia.com/568

1. How to Architect Microgrids for
the Industrial Internet of Things
Brett Burger, National Instruments
Brett Murphy, RTI

2. Outline
•The Smart Grid and Microgrids
•Architecture Considerations for a Microgrid
•The Industrial Internet Consortium Microgrid
Testbed
•Communication and Control Framework for
Microgrids
• DDS
• CompactRIO and LabVIEW

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The Smart Grid
• The underlying infrastructure of a smart grid is a network of
interconnected, intelligent nodes that will enable:
• Local control of grid components
• More efficient infrastructure utilization
• Increased penetration of new generation and storage technologies
• “Big data” mining for better information
• Future grid changes and innovations

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The Grid is Changing

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What is a Microgrid?
• A microgrid is a localized grouping
of electricity generation, energy
storage, and loads that normally
operates connected to a traditional
centralized grid (macrogrid). This
single point of common coupling
with the macrogrid can be
disconnected. The microgrid can
then function autonomously.
• - Wikipedia

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Architecture Considerations for a Microgrid
Where to look for these?
The Industrial Internet of
Things
Security
Interoperability
Scalability

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What is the Internet of Things?
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)Consumer Internet of Things (CIoT)
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)

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The Industrial Internet Consortium
• Ground Zero for the IIoT: 180+ members
• Goal: build and prove a common
architecture that spans sensor to cloud,
interoperates between vendors, and
works across industries

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Three Primary Areas of Activity
•Create a market
Develop an IIoT-wide
architecture
Prove it & fund it

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Communication and Control Testbed for Microgrid
Applications
Collaborators
• Leads: RTI, NI, Cisco
• External: CPS Energy (San Antonio), Southern
California Edison, Duke Energy / SGIP
Market Segment
• Smart grid, especially integrating solar, wind,
storage, and EVs
Goal
• Prove the viability of a real-time, secure
databus and distributed control architecture in
a real-world power system
Features & Commercial Benefits
• Enable efficient integration of solar, wind, &
EVs into the grid
• Create a dynamic, open marketplace for smart
grid vendors
• Break the standards blockage holding back the
industry
Neighborhood Microgrid
Solar
Field Network
Wind
Local
load
control

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Key Challenges
• Security - Cybersecurity is a founding architectural principle
• Interoperability - Data interoperability for a vibrant competitive
market
• Scalability – Scale from peer-to-peer communication and control at
the edge to cloud / data center analytics
• Practicality- Incrementally buildable, upgradable, expandable,
compatible with legacy installations and protocols
• Distributed Edge Intelligence – Intelligent system control at the
edge, driving automation and rapid response
The Smart Communication and Control
Architecture will address:

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Phased Approach for Proving Viability
• Phase 1 – Proof of Concept at National Instruments Lab
• Phase 2 – Simulated Microgrid at Southern Cal Edison
• Phase 3 – Real-World Microgrid at CPS Energy
Incrementally develop.
Test and refine.
Deploy in real-world.

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Application Use Cases
Grid Optimization
•Reduce control requirement
from operators
•Increase asset utilization
Island
•Function as independent grid
Storm Resiliency
•Maximize storage
•Limit non-critical loads
•Auto-island with outage
Re-Sync to Grid
•Transition from independent
grid to component of main grid

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Microgrid of “Things”
THING
THING
THING
THINGTHING
Connectivity
Processing
Capability
Input / Output
THING
Network of interconnected, intelligent nodes.

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Connectivity
Component Purpose
Reliable
Messaging
Standard, interoperable
messaging protocol using TCP
or UDP
QoS Quality of service: Data delivery,
Timeliness, Fault tolerance, etc
Security Authorization, authentication,
encryption, non-repudiation, …
Data Management Local cache of current state of
communicated data, local and
remote
Discovery Discovery of and connection to
remote data readers and writers
Connectivity
Processing
Capability
Input / Output
THING

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Blueprint for the Industrial Internet
The Industrial Internet Reference Architecture (IIRA)
published June 17, 2015

17. Endpoints
Other
Connectivity
Technologies
Connectivity Standard
Gateway
Other Endpoints
External
Connectivity
Gateway
IIRA Data Connectivity Architecture Model
Central Databus & Gateways
•Organize hierarchy
•Integrate disparate
connectivity
technologies
•Pick the most
suitable open
standard now
•Pivot to the most
suitable standard in
the future

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DDS: The Connectivity Foundation for IIoT
Data-Centric Messaging Bus
• Data Distribution Service (DDS) is an
open industry standard for data-
centric connectivity
• From OMG, the world’s largest
systems software standards
organization
• UML, DDS
• Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC)
• DDS is Open & Multi-Vendor
• Open Standard & Open Source
• 12 implementations
DDS-RTPS
Protocol
Real-Time Publish-
Subscribe
Distribution
Fabric
DDS API

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It’s All About the Data
Data centricity enables interoperation, scale, integration
Unstructured files Database
Data Centricity Data at Rest
Messaging middleware
DataBus
Data Centricity
Data in Motion

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Connectivity: DDS
Component Purpose
Reliable
Messaging
DDS-RTPS real-time
publish-subscribe protocol
QoS 21 QoS governing data flow
connections
Security DDS Secure specification
allows security per data topic
Data
Management
System data state is
maintained by DDS
middleware
Discovery Automatic discovery of and
connection to remote data
readers and writers
Connectivity
Processing
Capability
Input / Output
THING

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Processing Capability
Component Purpose
CPU Core application controller
FPGA Co-processing, timing and
synchronization, high-speed
protection/control
GPU Co-processing, specialty
processing
DSP Co/Signal processing, timing
ASIC Optimize for cost
Connectivity
Processing
Capability
Input / Output
THING

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Sensing and Control Signals
Component Purpose
Analog Input Analog sensor input (PT,
CT)
Digital Input Relay status
communication, digital
sensor input
Digital Output Control signals
Connectivity
Processing
Capability
Input / Output
THING

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Programmable Sensor and Protocol Gateway
FPGA
(with DSP slices)
Dual Core
ARM
Input for Voltage
Sensors
Input for Current
Sensors
Input for Digital
Status
2x Ethernet Port
2x RS232
RS 485

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Machine to Machine Communication
Logic A
THING THING
Measure X
THING
Control
THING
Measure Y
THING
Logic B
Databus

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Machine to Machine Communication
Logic A
THING THING
Measure X
THING
Control
THING
Measure Y
THING
Logic B
Databus
Output Signal

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Machine to Machine Communication
Logic A
THING THING
Measure X
THING
Control
THING
Measure Y
THING
Logic B
Databus
Output Signal
From Logic A

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Machine to Machine Communication
Logic A
THING THING
Measure X
THING
Control
THING
Measure Y
THING
Logic B
Databus
Based on
Measurements X&Y

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Phase 1 – Data View
Databus
DNP3
DDSDDS DDS
Power Quality
Measurements
Power Quality
Measurements
Logic Control

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Phase 1 – Grid View
The Microgrid
Grid Tie
Solar &
Storage
Loads

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Upcoming Demos of the IIC Microgrid Testbed
• NIWeek (August 3rd-6th , Austin, TX)
• Expo floor demo – Free admission to expo floor
• IoT Solutions World Congress – Barcelona, Spain

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Thank You
Brett Burger
National Instruments
brett.burger@ni.com
Brett Murphy
RTI
brett@rti.com