Reliable and resilient access network design for advanced metering infrastructures in smart grid

Abstract

Maintaining a high overall network reliability remains one of the most critical requirements for advanced metering infrastructures (AMIs) in smart grid. Ensuring reliable networks not only determines the robust communications of an AMI, but also guarantees assured information delivery in the access network. To prevent any communication failures, incremental designs based on legacy networks should be carried out in advance to improve the overall redundancy. Current communication architecture of an AMI follows a traditional access network structure with a tree-based topology, which does not always satisfy high robustness and is prone to network failures. To address the challenge, this study conducts a reliability study of the access network in an AMI. Specifically, this study first examines the basic network topology adopted in an AMI access network and its underlying connectivity issues. Secondly, this study proposes two practical solutions as parts of incremental network design to improve the communication robustness of existing communication architectures. Thirdly, mathematical models are formulated to solve network connectivity problems, for maintaining a high overall network reliability, while minimising the communication deployment cost at the same time. Simulation results are provided from the aspects of minimal path sets and minimal cut sets to demonstrate the redundancy analysis.

Reliability Based Genetic Algorithm Applied to Allocation of Fiber Optics Links for Power Grid Automation

“…In [19], the authors proposed evaluating reliability via Monte Carlo simulation coupled with probabilistic failure models derived for the grid components. In [20], methods for evaluating the reliability of link topologies as a function of individual link reliabilities was proposed. However, no optimization procedure was proposed for link allocation.…”

Requirements for Infrastructure of Communication Networks in Smart Grid

“…Надежность является одним из наиболее критичных требований к AMI и определяется непрерывностью предоставляемых услуг двусторонней передачей данных. В [19] приводятся результаты изучения надежности в сетях доступа AMI, которые включают интеллектуальные счетчики, пункты сбора данных DAP (data aggregation point) и концентраторы данных. Эти концентраторы являются главными шлюзами NAN.…”

“…Главные шлюзы NAN определены, как последняя миля сети доступа AMI. В указанной работе [19] анализируются с точки зрения надежности AMI следующие принятые топологии сети доступа: "дерево", "звезда", "кольцо" и mesh.…”

Design and realization of an open‐source and modular smart meter

“…In order to cope with existing technologies and to be able to contribute to the future development of the technology of smart metering, several leading academic and research institutions have started including the smart meter design and technologies in their electrical engineering curricula and research programs. QU is one of these institutions that introduces topics such as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and smart grid, to graduate future engineers to be more knowledgeable and trained on the 21 st century grid technologies. Moreover, Qatar is moving toward developing a new electric grid infrastructure to enable smartness .…”