NS3-Based Communication Network Modeling for Multi-Microgrid Systems: Design and Evaluation

This paper presents a communication emulation model for enhancing the efficiency of multi-microgrid (MMG) networks, employing Network Simulator 3 (ns3). MMG systems require robust communication frameworks for coordination, particularly under varying traffic conditions. The introduced model accommodates multiple local area networks (LANs) that support efficient communication across multiple autonomous AC microgrids. The developed model facilitates seamless bidirectional information exchange between the microgrids' local controllers and the MMG control center (MMGCC), employing TCP/IP protocol to ensure high data transmission integrity and low latency. A detailed design in C++ is demonstrated, including the configuration of the communication nodes, topology, communication links, and quality of service (QoS) analysis. The network performance is rigorously assessed across low and high traffic conditions, with performance metrics such as throughput, delay, and percentage packet loss at each node. Results confirm the effectiveness of the introduced model in sustaining minimal packet loss, high throughput, and low delays under dynamic operating scenarios. These findings establish the developed model as a viable solution for meeting the real-time communication requirements of MMG energy management systems.