Application of OPNET in microgrid communication system simulation

WEI Xing-xing, ZHANG You-bing, XIE Lu-yao, YANG Xiao-dong

(Information Engineering College， Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China)

Abstract: Aiming at the problems of real-time performance in a microgrid communication system, IEC61850, the global communication standard for substation automation systems was applied for microgrid communication system. A three-layer microgrid communication structure was built based on IEC61850, while the communication traffic in microgrid was analyzed and modeled, a method was presented to simulate the microgrid real-time performance using network simulation software OPNET. Taken bandwidth of 10Mbit/s and 100Mbit/s as communication link, the global delay of microgrid communication network, the protection and control traffic delay, the delay of different nodes were tested on OPNET. The results indicate that the 10Mbit/s bandwidth can basically meet the global real-time performance requirements, however, the delays will spread when the traffic flow increases. The 100 Mbit/s communication link is preferred, which can well meet the real-time requirements of the microgrid in all-round way. Some references were provided to choose bandwidth and model other traffics in building microgrid communication system later.