Dynamic Load Altering Attack Identification in Power Systems

Identifying the dynamic load altering attack (DLAA) is one of the main challenges in modern power systems operation. Due to the ever-increasing demand for energy and the complexities arising from the integration of renewable energy resources, the D-LAA may significantly affect the stability and reliability of the power systems. Therefore, the development and implementation of effective strategies to manage these situations is not only necessary to maintain the stability of the network, but also improves the power quality and increases the system reliability. In this paper, identification of the D-LAA in power systems is discussed. By using a bank of localization observer, the location of the attack and its signature matrix are determined. Then, using a cubic sliding mode observer, the D-LAA signal is identified. Compared to existing results, no limiting assumptions are made on the attack signal. Besides, presence of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in all buses is not necessary. Using the cubic term in the identification observer reduces the identification error compared to the standard sliding mode observers. All the design scheme is done using a centralized approach, which facilitates taking necessary measures to maintain the stability of the power system in the central control center. The simulation results on the power system with three generator buses and six load buses show the efficiency and capability of the proposed method.