A Comprehensive Framework for the Assessment of Synchrophasor Communication Networks from the Perspective of Situational Awareness in a Smart Grid Cyber Physical System

Abstract

The conventional power grid is modernizing into a cyber-physical smart grid. In this system, there are several applications, an important being the synchrophasor measurement system. Sensors called the phasor measurement units, measure the synchrophasors and communicate them to the phasor data concentrator using the synchrophasor communication networks. Situational awareness helps in the quick perception of the environment and in taking commensurate actions by the power system operator. Thus, the synchrophasor communication networks play an important role and must be assessed from the perspective of the operator’s situational awareness. In this context, a comprehensive situational awareness analysis metric is proposed. The proposed metric is based on hardware reliability, data reliability, and network delay. As a case study, a practical power grid of India (West Bengal Power Grid) is considered for assessing its situational awareness. The synchrophasor communication networks of the West Bengal power grid are simulated in the QualNet network simulator to validate the proposed situational awareness framework.