PhD Project in Secure Synchronised Measurements for Smart Grids

Synchronised Measurements are a vital component to the operation of novel protection and control systems in Smart Grids. This project will investigate the optimal ways to implement this emerging technology, considering several areas including metrological aspects of power system phenomena, time synchronisation technologies through to secure data telecoms.

While synchrophasor measurement technology has been successful in the electrical transmission system, electrical distribution networks present many new measurement challenges. In particular, the highly distorted voltage and current waveforms do not lend themselves to expression as synchrophasors, and doing do loses information which is important to understanding system behaviour. The first stage of this project will be to conduct a study of such phenomena using the established ‘OpenPMU’ technology platform, and then implement measurement algorithms which target the signal attributes of interest, for example the harmonic phasors.

Subsequently, the project will turn focus to the IEC 61850 environment, and will study how the measurement algorithms developed may be implemented using professional substation equipment. In this part of the project, there is a need to consider the cyber security requirements as there will be a need for the data produced to traverse wide area networks, most often public networks such as the Internet.

This PhD seeks to answer the questions ‘What way will time synchronised measurements benefit the electrical distribution network?’ and ‘How may this technology be implemented in a robust, reliable and secure way?’

Funding Information

To be eligible for consideration for a Home DfE or EPSRC Studentship (covering tuition fees and maintenance stipend of approx. £19,237 per annum), a candidate must satisfy all the eligibility criteria based on nationality, residency and academic qualifications.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:

• Be a UK National,
or • Have settled status,
or • Have pre-settled status,
or • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK.

Candidates from ROI may also qualify for Home student funding.

Previous PhD study MAY make you ineligible to be considered for funding.

Please note that other terms and conditions also apply.

Please note that any available PhD studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis across a number of projects currently being advertised by the School.

A small number of international awards will be available for allocation across the School. An international award is not guaranteed to be available for this project, and competition across the School for these awards will be highly competitive.

Academic Requirements:

The minimum academic requirement for admission is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education provider in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Entrance requirements

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.