An Integrated Distribution Grid Protection System Using 5G URLLC

Abstract

Protection systems based on optical fiber communication are considered to be one of the reliable and efficient protection systems. Besides, number of advantages like high reliability, less delay and latency and end to end encryption, optical fibers has certain drawbacks such as highly susceptible to breakage, complex and expensive installation. An ordinary wireless communication is not considered to be an alternate to the existing optical fiber based communication. Most importantly, the existing conventional wireless systems are susceptible to high electromagnetic interferences which also prohibit its large scale application. Therefore, this paper aims to present an efficient integrated protection system based on differential protection principals using wireless communication system which is the latest emerging and cutting edge 5G (URLLC). This system provides 1ms latency with 99.999% reliability. However, the wireless reliability can be compromised in cases such as in presence of jammers or any unusual events in space due to which GPS synchronization gets disturbed and causes delay in communication. Alternately, the system should have a reliable backup protection plan which can perform in case of primary protection failure. The backup protection is based on directional protection using power-line carrier communication. The simulation model is designed in Power System Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) tool, whereas, communication network is simulated using NETSIM 12.2 software. The throughput, delay, packet loss and jitter calculated in NETSIM are promising for differential protection to replace optical fibers for distribution grid protection. 5G based protection system is one of the most potential protection system and it is one of the important direction of protection in the near future. Additionally, high performance of primary protection using wireless communication is balanced by the reliable backup protection using wired PLC communication and this makes the proposed system cost effective, efficient and reliable protection system. Detailed simulation and results are discussed in the paper.