Phasor measurement units’ responsiveness: Fault simulations in a 5G network environment

In the era of electrical substation digitalization, the reliability of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) is crucial. This paper addresses the impact of fault conditions in PMUs on system reaction time in a 5G network environment. We focus on fault-critical conditions in communication systems, particularly in the presence of PMU-based measurement systems. We perform a series of simulations to evaluate the performance of the 5G infrastructure for transmitting IEC61850 data. Results from simulations show that the performance in terms of latency and packet loss is strongly influenced by the topology of 5G networks, particularly the number and deployment of gNBs (5G base stations) serving PMU systems. The analysis of the two case studies underscores the importance of considering the specific characteristics of each fault event when designing and deploying PMU/PDC systems capable of real-time fault detection and response, ensuring the stability and reliability of the power grid. This will involve simulating various fault scenarios and communication network impairments to better understand their impact on the overall system performance and to mitigation strategies to improve the reliability and resilience of the PMU system in real-world deployment scenarios.