Abstract: For the imbalance issue of data transmission among cluster-heads in wireless networks for industrial automation-process automation (WIA-PA), a new load-balanced clustering scheme is presented. A periodic data throughput model is firstly established based on WIA-PA network characteristics. Then a cluster-head selection algorithm and an improved joining method for field devices is proposed. The field devices prefer to select the router with the minimum throughput as their cluster-head,so as to adjust network topology adaptively according to the data traffic. The tests show that the proposed scheme can effectively balance the data traffic and energy consumption among cluster-heads,and extend the lifetime of WIA-PA networks.

Key words: industrial wireless technology, industrial networks, load-balance, clustering scheme