OntoPowSys: A Power System Ontology for Cross Domain Interactions in an Eco Industrial Park

Abstract Knowledge management in multi-domain, heterogeneous industrial networks like an Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) is a challenging task. In this paper, an ontology based management system has been proposed for addressing this challenge. It focuses on the power systems domain and provides a framework for integrating this knowledge with the other domains of an EIP. The proposed ontology, OntoPowSys is expressed using a Description Logics (DL) syntax and the OWL2 language was used to make it alive. It is then used as a part of the Knowledge Management System (KMS) in a virtual EIP called the J-Park Simulator (JPS). The advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated by conducting two case studies on the JPS. The first case study illustrates the application of optimal power flow (OPF) in the electrical network of the JPS. The second case study plays an important role in understanding the cross-domain interactions between the chemical and electrical engineering domains in a bio-diesel plant of the JPS. These case studies are available as web services on the JPS website. The results showcase the advantages of using ontologies in the development of decision support tools. These tools are capable of taking into account contextual information on top of data during their decision-making processes. They are also able to exchange knowledge across different domains without the need for a communication interface.