Third-Generation Cellular and Wireless Serial Radio Communications: Field Testing for Smart Grid Applications

Increasingly, smart grid solutions use wireless communications as a core component for moving information and, thus, facilitate more intelligent decision making. This article considers a synchrophasor system implemented on a distribution feeder simultaneously using two separate wireless communication technologies to transmit synchrophasor measurement data. This system was implemented to demonstrate advanced distributed-generation control and how it impacts grid support on the broader electrical feeder. For purposes of performance evaluation, both a wireless serial communications solution and a third-generation (3G) cellular solution were implemented. Phasor measurement unit (PMU ) data, which are streamed without interruption up to 60 messages/s, offer a means to continuously evaluate the two communications systems; performance data measured and archived over a one-week period provided detailed comparison information. Using this information, this article recommends which wireless technology may be better suited for various utility applications.