Performance evaluation of smart grid communications via network simulation version 3

In this paper, we simulate the smart grid communications from network by data concentrator unit (DCU) to advance metering infrastructure (AMI) by using network simulation version 3. Three well-known communication technologies including ZigBee, Wi-Fi and Long Term Evolution (LTE) are considered under smart grid protocol standard that is DLMS/COSEM. Due to recommendations of existing work on ZigBee deployment, we set the parameters on experiment based on those recommendations in order to evaluate its performance under several conditions. In details, several factors are evaluated including DCU location, the number of AMIs and the pattern of data connection in smart grid systems.