Low latency communication infrastructure for synchrophasor applications in distribution networks

With the introduction of new power sources, such as distributed renewable energy resources, and loads, such as electric vehicles, electrical distribution networks must accommodate new energy flow patterns in a considerably dynamic environment. This leads to the need for increasing the observability of the grid to enable a series of mission-critical applications such as voltage/congestion control and fault detection/location. The deployment of Phasor Measurement Units appears to be a promising approach, offering high precision grid monitoring. However, while the low delay requirements of such applications raise a significant challenge to the communication infrastructure, there is currently no clear vision on the exact communication technologies and network topologies that could support these requirements. In this paper, we address this challenge by taking a systematic approach on the design of low latency communication infrastructures. Based on a large set of real medium voltage grid topologies from a European distribution network, we first perform a detailed analysis of the communication requirements. Guided by this analysis, we then propose two algorithms, PLeC and BW-PLeC algorithms, for the design of low latency communication infrastructures that enhance the currently available power-line communication technology with newer high-speed communication links at strategic points in the grid to satisfy the delay requirements while reducing deployment costs.