Prolonging smart grid network lifetime through optimising number of sensor nodes and packet length

In the era of internet-of-things (IoT), many applications utilise wireless sensor networks (WSNs) including smart grids (SGs). Designing WSNs to fulfill the SGs requirements imposes some challenges such as limited power and signal propagation impairments, especially, in harsh environments. Consequently, saving power consumption in WSNs-based SGs is among the most significant challenges. The total power required at a certain sensor depends on two main parameters: the packet length and inter-node distance. This paper investigates the optimal packet length and inter-node distance to be utilised in a SG over six different environments aiming at maximising the network lifetime. The investigation is based on a link-layer model using Tmote Sky nodes taking into consideration the six environments impact. A mixed-integer programming (MIP) model is utilised to determine the best packet length and number of nodes for maximising the network lifetime. This model analyses the performance of maximum SG network lifetime over those environments and addresses the inter-node distance effect on the network lifetime maximisation. Simulation results show that decreasing the number of nodes covering a certain area is preferable to prolonging the network lifetime. Furthermore, for the considered models, the longer the packet length is, the longer the network lifetime will be.