A WebGL-based method for visualization of intelligent grid

For the web-based application of intelligent grid and security control, this paper introduces a visualization system model, which is based on the popular browsers with no plug-ins, to display components and their run-time states of intelligent grid. The model applies the X3DOM framework that base on WebGL to develop basic components of intelligent grid, which contains two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) contents by the core node of X3DOM. In order to realize runtime data display, the model describes interactive 3D animation with JavaScript and exchanges asynchronous data with server by using AJAX technology. In the case of 220KV lines loading rate, the pie charts indicate the percentage loadings on the lines, animated flows display the line flows, contours describe the runtime state of grid, and 3D cylinders mean the percentage loadings of transformers. This paper proposes an effective method to transfer the software development from conventional C/S (Client/Server) mode to B/S (Browser/Server) mode for the visualization of intelligent grid. The results show that the WebGL-based system model is feasible and practicable, and it increases the range of intelligent grid visualizations and reduces the maintenance costs.