Enabling decentralized real-time analysis of smart distribution systems using wireless communication

Wireless communications, distributed intelligence and automated control systems are the key technological components in achieving the goals of the smart grid, e.g. self-healing, optimum operation, and power quality. In this paper, we are proposing a novel approach that utilizes wireless communications to enable decentralized real-time analysis of distribution systems. Each bus (node) in the distribution system has a processing unit that communicates with other relevant nodes in the system. Each processing unit performs a part of the overall analysis, and forwards the results to relevant nodes. The proposed framework has been implemented using GNU-Octave, and the Network Simulator NS-3. GNU-Octave was used to verify the validity, accuracy and speed of the framework. A WiMAX network was used as the communication layer, and NS-3 simulations captured the WiMAX network performance, e.g. average packet delay, average packet delivery ratio, and average convergence times for different number of nodes.