Fiber-Wireless Sensor Networks for Monitoring Distributed Generation in a Smart Grid Environment

Smart grid applications like teleprotection, synchrophasors and remote condition monitoring and control of assets require timely and reliable data transmission from the widely distributed assets to the Data Control Centers (DCCs). Many communication architectures and solutions have been proposed to provide support for these smart grid applications, such as fiber networks, microwave links, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), etc. The use of heterogeneous solutions can be an attractive architecture option because they combine the advantages of two or more communication systems to provide the needed delay and reliability requirements. Fiber-Wireless Sensor Networks (Fi-WSNs) are gaining popularity as a communication infrastructure in many other applications like in health care, transportation etc. This is due to the low cost, reliability, availability and the distributed nature of the WSNs, and the high bandwidth and reliability of the optical fiber networks. Distributed generation (DG) units are small sources of energy located close to the point of consumption. Properly operated and planned DG can provide a varied selection of advantages, including improved environmental performance, economic savings, and greater reliability. Examples of DGs include photovoltaic, wind turbines, diesel generators, fuel cells and small modular reactors (SMRs). In this thesis, we focus on SMRs as a DG. SMRs are good alternatives for energy generation due to their passive safety feature and attractive energy output profile. SMR power generation units may be located in areas where the communication i infrastructure required for monitoring and control may not be available. In addition to availability, the system must meet the requirements mentioned above. These factors have to be considered along with grid priorities to establish a safe and reliable SMR system. Although, Fi-WSNs can provide a good delay tolerance in their conventional state, they may not be suitable for certain delay-critical SMR events (like electrical faults). Therefore, appropriate Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms are needed to satisfy the delay requirements of these SMR events. In this thesis, a number of location-dependent communication topologies to monitor and control SMR units are evaluated. A ranking system to rank different potential locations for siting new SMR units is developed. A case study for Saskatchewan, Canada to rank the proposed communication infrastructures is presented. Furthermore, an adaptive and cross-layer service differentiation mechanism for the IEEE 802.15.4- based WSNs and the Modified Optically Coded (MOC) Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) is presented. Simulation results show that the proposed QoS mechanism can reduce the end-to-end delay between the SMR and the DCC. In addition, we show that our mechanism does not negatively impact the SMR siting location and, we can still choose the optimum location and also implement QoS.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering - Electronic Systems

Grantor dc:publisher

Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Akerele, Oyeka Michael

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Al-Anbagi, Irfan

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Laforge, Paul
• Wagner, Douglas

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.82465/3886

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uregina.scholaris.ca:10294/8551