Explaining the Scope of PWRD
PWRD welcomes papers related to the following three aspects of electric apparatus or equipment for power transmission and distribution:
1) Innovations in T&D apparatus including novel concepts, designs, and testing methods. Example apparatus are HVDC converters and FACTS devices; harmonic filters; protective relays; transformers, cables, and overhead conductors; circuit-breakers, reclosers, and fault current limiters; CT, PT, PMU, fault recorder and power quality monitor; substation and grounding structure and so on
2) Apparatus related modelling, analysis, implementation and application issues. Examples are power system protection; electromagnetic transients simulation and analysis; power quality & grounding; HVDC configurations and novel transmission schemes; equipment condition monitoring, parameter estimation and life prediction; fault detection and analysis; measurement and instrumentation and so on.
3) Research leading to the development of apparatus related standards. Example standards are recommended guides for substation grounding practice, surge arrester applications, and power quality limits.
To further clarify the above scope, an example of HVDC control research is considered. A HVDC control research may be based on a physical model of a HVDC converter. The results may be related to the controller implementation. Such a work is of interest to PWRD. Another HVDC control research may use the functional model (such as transfer functions) of a HVDC converter. In this case, the results are more likely related to impact on power systems. Such a work fits better with, for example, PWRS as it is more a power system control research. This illustration shows that although both PWRD and PWRS can cover the application of an apparatus, PWRD-interested work deals with the component aspects of an apparatus while PWRS-interested work relies on the functional aspect of an apparatus. Additionally, if the above physical level HVDC converter research does not consider realistic power system constraints or issues, the work may be considered as power electronics focused research. Such a work is more likely suitable for IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics and similar transactions.
PWRD is also interested in apparatus related computational models, algorithms and tools. Power apparatus are very sensitive to over-voltages and over-currents. The development of tools for over-voltage and over-current studies, such as electromagnetic transients simulation, harmonic power flow, and fault analysis fits the scope of PWRD well. Conversely, the research on algorithms for power system level issues such as power system planning, operation, optimization and stability is more suitable for other transactions such as PWRS.
Apparatus research may cover many aspects. Some aspects that deal with more basic issues such as the physics of plasma in a vacuum breaker are generally outside the scope of PWRD. There are also cases where a paper may fit the scopes of PWRD and other IEEE transactions. Two criteria are used to judge the suitability of such a paper for PWRD: (a) key references are published in PWRD or similar scoped journals (such as, for example, IET-GTD or EPSR). It demonstrates that the paper’s topic is of interest to PWRD readers, authors and reviewers. (b) Key conferences covering the specific subject of the paper are not consistently sponsored by another IEEE society. If another IEEE society is active in “running the show” of the subject area, the paper is more likely suitable for the transaction of that society.