Download Channel Modelling and Characterization for NB-PLC in

Channel Modelling and Characterization for NB-PLC in Smart Grid
Bilal Masood1* and Sobia Baig2
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, The Superior College, University Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
2
Department of Electrical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore,
Pakistan
Accepted for publication on the 17th of February 2015
A modern power grid infrastructure is required to deliver secure, reliable and efficient energy to the
consumer as conventional power grid infrastructure is ill suited for the needs of 21st century.
Integration of renewable energy resources and new emerging technologies create complexities in the
typical power grid. A state of the art information and communication technologies (ICT) based
advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is required to convert the conventional power grid into a
smart grid (SG). In the recent past, IEEE P1901.1, P1901.2, G3, PRIME and IEC 61334 are some of
the standards based on which SG communication products and technologies are being developed.
Power line communications (PLC) is one of the emerging technologies that can play a vital role for
SG applications. Most promising feature of PLC is its already existing infrastructure nationwide due
to which its installation cost reduces by 50%. However research on PLC is decreasing due to the
absence of internationally mutually agreed upon channel model.
The power grid usually comprises of four layers which include indoor power distribution system,
low voltage (LV) distribution system, medium voltage (MV) distribution system and high voltage
(HV) transmission system. Since the last two decades, the focus of most researchers remained on
first layer that is dedicated to residential and commercial buildings.
This talk deals with evaluation and comparative analysis of LV, MV and HV channel models along
with their characteristics for the narrowband power line communications (NB-PLC). The bottom-up
approach using transmission line theory will be presented by focusing on the physical characteristics
of the channel which include the cable and conductor parameters, layout of electric power network
and variable behaviour of connected loads. In order to make the channel model closer to reality,
AWGN is added. Furthermore, modeling of frequency selective impedances, their comparison with
constant impedances along with corresponding transfer functions is evaluated. This talk helps to
investigate the influence of access or load impedances and transfer functions on the performance of
NB-PLC systems for all kinds of outdoor power line channels that have not been evaluated as yet.
Moreover, the presented comparative analysis will facilitate the international standardization process
for NB-PLC channel models.
Keywords: Advanced metering infrastructure; smart grid; power line communications; two port
network; all aluminium conductors; aluminium conductor steel reinforced.