WiMAX Multiple Hops Architecturein Smart Grid Communications

—This paper proposes a multiple hops WiMAX topology to serve as a wireless communication for the smart grid. A simulation model is developed to evaluate the network performance based on the quality of service requirements of the smart grid applications in order to explore the possible solutions for the grid. The simulation results demonstrated that different service flow types affect the latency of the network. For class 1) applications, no more than 450 smart grid devices should be used to satisfy the latencyrequirement. For class 2) applications, a maximum of 250 smart grid devices can be placed in one cell in order to satisfy the latency requirement. For both classes and under the recommended number of smart grid devices, it was found that the CB-SPQ scheduling algorithm is the best for the satisfactory performance. For class 3) and class 4) applications, a cell can accommodate a maximum of 150 smart grid devices and the CB-WFQ scheduling algorithm is the best. For class 5) applications, no more than 450 smart grid devices should be used to satisfy the latency requirement and the CB-WFQ scheduling algorithm is the best.