Burns & McDonnell — K-State Smart Grid Laboratory: Protection, communication & power metering

The Burns & McDonnell - K-State Smart Grid Laboratory was created because of a need for the energy industry (electrical utilities, equipment manufacturers, and contractors) and engineering universities to recruit highly skilled power engineers and develop state-of-the-art educational programs. Smart Grid Laboratory objectives were defined for pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate students based on Bloom´s taxonomy levels, providing hands-on experiences and demonstrations. The Smart Grid Laboratory architectures comprise inside and outside laboratory networks. A mapping method to organize Smart Grid Laboratory resources was conducted. By integrating laboratory experiences with computer-based simulators using relays in the loop, the Smart Grid Laboratory is focused on the combination of protection, communication, and power metering areas in order to educate the public, introduce students to engineering careers, and advance knowledge for current K-State students. Conclusions as to how an integrated Smart Grid Laboratory was created are discussed.