Scribd
Upload
477 views25 pages

Narrow Band Power Line PLC

PLC uses existing power lines to transmit data signals by superimposing a high frequency signal over the low frequency power signal. It reduces installation costs compared to adding new wiring. However, power lines were not designed for high frequency data transmission, causing issues like high attenuation, impedance mismatches, and noise interference. PLC is used for applications like automatic meter reading, last mile broadband internet access, and smart grid communications. Standards and regulations govern its use within different frequency bands to prevent interference.

Uploaded by

saurabhtrical
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
477 views25 pages

Narrow Band Power Line PLC

PLC uses existing power lines to transmit data signals by superimposing a high frequency signal over the low frequency power signal. It reduces installation costs compared to adding new wiring. However, power lines were not designed for high frequency data transmission, causing issues like high attenuation, impedance mismatches, and noise interference. PLC is used for applications like automatic meter reading, last mile broadband internet access, and smart grid communications. Standards and regulations govern its use within different frequency bands to prevent interference.

Uploaded by

saurabhtrical
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 25

Power line

communication(PLC).

Saurabh Gupta
IDD Part-IV
Roll No-07020408
What is PLC?

 Power line communication or power line carrier


(PLC), also known as Power line Digital Subscriber
Line (PDSL), are systems for carrying data on a
conductor also used for “electric power transmission”.
 It is the technology that enables data transfer at narrow
or broad band speeds through power lines by using
advanced modulation technology.
Why PLC?
 By use of power line carrier digitalization and
networking of existing facilities could be organized at
low cost. Because there is no need for any further
construction of communication lines, given that home
appliances, information devices and other various kinds
of control devices therein related are digitalized easily.
 Power-line communication systems greatly reduce the
complexity and effort of installation.
 Use of existing power lines as a communication medium
eliminates installation costs for adding dedicated
communication wiring to existing structures.
Some facts about PLC
60%+ U.S. homes have Internet access
10% broadband
◦ Inaccessible and costly
PLC = No new wires:
◦ Extensive infrastructure
 "Every" building
◦ Emerging Technology
◦ Use of Power grid for communication
Power line
characteristics
Not designed for high frequencies
Power line "hostile" to signal propagation
Power line is one of the most electrically
contaminated environments, which makes
reliable data communication via this
medium extremely difficult.
Operating principle of PLC
 Superimposing a high frequency signal
(1.6 to 30 MHz) at low energy levels over
the 50 Hz electrical signal.
This second signal is transmitted via the
power infrastructure and can be received
and decoded remotely.
PLC signal is received by any PLC
receiver located on the same electrical
network.
Components used in PLC
Power line network components use existing electrical
power lines as carriers for data communications signals.
These components are:
 Directional couplers:
A directional coupler is a power component used for
developing high flatness and directivity on the
waveguide band.
 Fixed power attenuators:

An attenuator is a power component that is used to


lower the amplitude value of the electrical signal
passing through a wire.
Contd….
 Line trap: It is also called "Wave trap". It is connected
in series with the power (transmission) line. It blocks the
high frequency carrier waves and let power waves (50
Hz - 60 Hz) to pass through. It is basically an inductor
of rating in milli Henry.
 Coupling capacitor: It provides low impedance path
for carrier energy to HV line and blocks the power
frequency circuit by being a high impedance path.
 Power line modems: A power line modem can be used
in residential and commercial applications for
transmitting and receiving data through power lines.
Directional coupler
How is PLC implemented
 All power line communications systems operate by
impressing a modulated carrier signal on the wiring
system.
 As the losses in the grid are also proportional to

distance,
 high voltages are used for long-distance transmission,
 medium voltages are used for intermediate distances,
 and low voltages are used for transmission over short
distances and within the target building or environment.
 Different types of power line communications use
different frequency bands, depending on the signal
transmission characteristics of the power wiring used.
Contd…
 HV lines are excellent carriers for radio frequency (30
kHz-300GHz) communications signals, as they feature
open wires with very few crossovers over quite long
distances. An RF transmission power of about 10 watts
is often sufficient to cover distances of more than 500
km.
 MV and LV lines are characterized by a large number of
cross-connections and different conductor types (e.g.,
open wire and cable). Long-distance RF signal
propagation is extremely poor in such an environment,
primarily due to the high attenuation and impedance
mismatch.
Orthogonal Frequency Division
Modulation Scheme - OFDM

Advantages
 High bandwidth efficiency.
 Scalable to high data rates.
 Channel equalization not required.
 Efficient implementation using Fast Fourier
Transform (FFT).
 Used in Home Plug 1.0
 Design of OFDM transmission schemes is based on
the selection of the number of carriers and the cyclic
prefix length.
Block diagram for OFDM modem:
 Multicarrier modulation is used.
 Robust against narrowband
interference.
 The bandwidth is divided into a
number of sub-channels, which
can be viewed as many
independent modulated carriers
with orthogonal carrier
frequencies.
 The data is divided into several
parallel data streams or channels,
one for each sub-carrier.
Contd..
 Each sub-carrier is modulated with a conventional
modulation scheme (such as quadrature amplitude
modulation or phase-shift keying) at a low symbol rate,
maintaining total data rates similar to conventional single-
carrier modulation schemes in the same bandwidth.
 Channel equalization is simplified because OFDM may be
viewed as using many slowly-modulated narrowband signals
rather than one rapidly-modulated wideband signal.
Disadvantages:
 Sensitive to frequency synchronization problems.
 Loss of efficiency caused by cyclic prefix/guard interval.
Limitations of PLC
 Power line wiring was designed for transmission of electrical
power, nominally in the 50–60 Hz range and at most at about 400
Hz; thus, the use of this medium for data transmission at high
frequencies presents some technically challenging problems.
Attenuation in the PLC Channel:
 Maximum signal power is received only when the impedance of the
transmitter, power line, and receiver match.
 Power line networks usually consist of a variety of conductor types
and cross sections joined randomly; therefore, a wide variety of
characteristic impedances are encountered in the network.
 This impedance mismatch results in a multipath effect with
destructive interference at certain frequencies.
Contd…
 In a typical home environment, the attenuation on a typical power line
is 20 to 60 dB and depends heavily on the load.
Noise in the PLC channel:
 The major sources of noise in the PLC channel are electrical
appliances that utilize the 50 Hz electric supply and generate noise
components extending well into the high-frequency spectrum as
harmonics of the line frequency.
 Induced radio frequency signals from broad cast, commercial, military,
citizen band, and amateur stations severely impair certain frequency
bands on the PLC channel.
PLC Electromagnetic Compatibility:
 The use of power lines for communications involves transmission of
information modulated on carrier frequencies in the 9 kHz to 30 MHz
range. The skin depth effect at these frequencies causes the power lines
to radiate high-frequency electromagnetic signals that make them
leaky. The placement of any wireless service near PLC systems is
bound to be subjected to interference. The interference is directly
proportional to the transmission power and the distance between the
installation and the power line.
Regulatory Constraints
Regulatory agencies
◦ Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
◦ European Committees for Electro technical
Standardization (CENELEC)
North America
◦ 0 to 500 kHz and part of 2 to 30 MHz unlicensed
spectrum are used for PLC
General -- Regulate
◦ Band allocation
◦ Radiation emission
◦ Power transmission on band
European Regulations
Frequencies / Use
1. 3-9 kHz: energy providers; customers premises
2. 9-95 kHz (A-band): energy providers & concession holders
3. 95-125 kHz (B-band): energy provider's customers
4. 125-140 kHz (C-band): energy provider's customers
5. 140-148.5 kHz (D-band): energy provider's customers
◦ B & D-band no access protocol defined
6. 2-30 MHz
◦ Home plug 1.0 uses
◦ Unlicensed by FCC
◦ Europe: efforts to develop a standard for electromagnetic compatibility
with PLC

General: Regulate
◦ Band allocation
Applications of PLC
Power line carrier communication (PLCC) is
mainly used for telecommunication, tele-
protection and tele-monitoring between
electrical substations through power lines at
high voltages, such as 110 kV, 220 kV, 400 kV.
Automatic meter reading (AMR) technology
allows energy suppliers to exploit their own
infrastructure to bill their customers in an
efficient and economical way using Power Line
Communications (PLC).
Contd…

PLCC can be used for interconnecting


PBXs(Private branch exchange). The
electricity board in India have an internal
network PLCC between PBXs.
PLC modems can satisfy services like
load and alarm management, remote
monitoring and disconnection, etc.,
provide high throughput and keep a low
cost.
Applications of PLC based on frequency spectrum
used:
1. High-frequency communication (≥MHz)
◦ Home networking (LAN)
◦ Internet access (broadband over power lines)
2. Medium frequency (kHz)
◦ Home control (narrowband)
◦ Low-speed narrow-band communication
◦ Transmitting radio programs
◦ Utility applications
3. Low frequency (<kHz)
◦ Utility
 Automatic meter reading
 Load control
 Demand response
Under Research/Development
ByHome Plug Alliance
Goal 100 Mb/s for in home PL network
◦ Necessary for multimedia (e.g. HDTV)
◦ Rivals wired network protocols (Ethernet)
Accommodates new hybrid power lines &
wireless network .
Simple, reliable, cost-effective
Plug-and-play
PLC -- Summary
Tremendous potential
◦ Existing infrastructure
◦ Much research -- many companies
◦ Relatively low cost
Obstacles
◦ Compatibility, security, reliability
◦ Bandwidth
◦ Regulatory issues
THANKYOU!!!

You might also like