Hybrid Communication Architecture Based on Hierarchical Computing for Low Voltage Power Network Automation in Developing Countries

Utility companies in developing countries, such as Tanzania, have made significant advancements in automating the generation, transmission, and primary distribution segments of their electrical grids. However, automation in the Low Voltage Power Network (LVPN) remains minimal and largely unmonitored, leading to manual fault management that results in losses and inconveniences for both utilities and customers. Effective Smart Grid (SG) infrastructure relies on seamless communication between end-devices and controlling systems to ensure timely execution of critical applications. Key SG applications for LVPN automation include Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Distributed Energy Resource (DER) coordination, and Distribution Automation (DA), each with specific latency requirements that must be met. Current architectures outlined in the literature present challenges for utility companies attempting to implement these applications while satisfying latency criteria for automation. This paper introduces a hybrid communication architecture based on a three-level hierarchical computing model specifically designed for LVPN automation. Laboratory results indicate that this architecture achieves an average delay of 7.059ms, significantly below the maximum allowable latency of 20ms for AMI, DER, and DA which demonstrates the architecture's capability for effective LVPN automation.