2. Power Line carrier Communication
(PLCC) is the method of transmission of data
from sending end to receiving end using the
existing power infrastructure. It works in full
duplex mode.
What is Power Line
Carrier Communication?
3. HISTORY
PLCC came in operation in several countries after 1920,those days
antenna (similar to radio work) were used to couple the telephone
system to the power line.
In the early 20th century the power companies used telephones as
the medium of communication for exchange of voice messages for
operational support, maintenance, control etc and as a method of
connectivity at remote locations. The telephone lines ran parallel to the
power lines.
The early PLCC system have now developed into very complicated
system which handle speech communication teleprinter, tele signaling
,etc.
8. PLCC system consists of three parts:
The terminal assemblies include the
receivers transmitters and protective relays.
The coupling equipment is the combination
of line tuner, coupling capacitor and the wave
or line trap.
The 50/60 Hz power transmission line
serves as path for relaying data in the PLCC
bandwidth.
CONSTRUCTION
9. LINE TRAP/WAVE TRAP
It is a parallel L-C tank filter or band-stop filter
connected in series with the transmission line.
It presents high impedance to carrier signal
frequencies and very low impedance to the power
frequency consists of main coil, tunning device,
protective device.
MAIN COIL
An inductor that is connected directly to the high
voltage power line carries power frequency.
10. TUNNING DEVICE
It may be a capacitor or a combination of capacitor, inductor
and resistor, connected across the main coil in order to tune the
line trap to the desired blocking frequency.
PROTECTIVE DEVICE
It is usually a gap type surge arrester used to protect the
line trap from damage due to transient over-voltages.
The line trap or wave trap prevents unwanted loss of
carrier signal power and also prevents carrier signal transmission
to adjacent power lines. Line traps or wave traps are available for
narrow-band and wide-band carrier frequency blocking
applications.
11. Line Trap = High Impedance for PLC signal
Low Impedance for Power energy
Power energy
PLC Signal
LINE TRAP FUNCTION
14. It forms the physical coupling link
between transmission line and the terminal
assemblies for the relaying of carrier signals.
Its function is to provide high impedance
to power frequency and low impedance to
carrier signal frequencies.
They are usually made up of paper or liquid
dielectric system for high voltage application.
The ratings of coupling capacitors range
from 0.004-0.01µF at 34 kV to 0.0023-0.005µF
at 765kV
COUPLING CAPACITOR
19. DRAIN COIL
The purpose of drain coil is
to provide high impedance
for carrier frequency and
low impedance for power
frequency.
20. LINE TUNER
It is connected in series with the coupling capacitor to
form a resonant circuit or carrier signal frequency high
pass or band pass filter.
Its function is to match the impedance of the PLC
terminal with the power line in order to impress the
carrier frequency over the power line.
In addition it also provides isolation from power
frequency and transient overvoltage protection.
23. Typical PLCC Installation
MS = Master station
PAX = Private automatic exchange
PR = Protection relay
PC = Computer
M = Modem
ETL
ETL
LT
LT
FAX
FAX
PR PC MS PAX FAX
M
PR PC RTU FAX
M
PR= Protection relay
FAX = Facsimileequipment
M = Modem
RTU = Remote terminalunit
cc cc
24. Batteries
PLCC work on rectified AC or main supply, when supply goes off, we
make use of a device for proper functioning of PLCC called battery
charger.
This is the device that provide supply to the PLCC
equipment for uninterrupted working.
It provide DC to the panel by battery.
25. ADVANTAGES
22
1. No separate wires are needed for communication purposes, as the power
lines themselves carry power as well as communication signals. Hence the
cost is less.
2 Power lines have appreciably higher mechanical strength compared with
ordinary lines. They would normally remain unaffected under the conditions,
which might seriously damage telephone lines.
3. Power lines usually provide the shortest route between the power stations.
4. Power lines have large cross-sectional area resulting in very low resistance
per unit length. Consequently carrier signals suffer much less attenuation
than when they travel on telephone lines of equal lengths.
5.Power lines are well insulated to provide only negligible leakage between
conductors and ground even in adverse weather conditions.
6.Largest spacing between conductors reduces capacitance, which results in
smaller attenuation at high frequencies. The large spacing also reduces the
cross talk to a considerable extent.
26. DISADVANTAGES
Proper care has to be taken to guard carrier equipment and
persons using them against high voltages and currents on the lines.
Reflections are produced on lines connected to high voltage lines.
This increases attenuation and creates problem.
High
carrier
voltage lines have transformer connections, attenuate
currents. Sub-station equipments adversely affect the
carrier currents.
Noise introduced by power lines is far more than in case of
telephone lines. This is due to the noise generated by discharge
across insulators, corona and switching processes.
It is obvious than effective power lines carrier system must
overcome these difficulties.
27. APPLICATION
PLCC unit provide five type of operation:
TELEPHONE FACILITES
COMPRESSOR & EXPANDER
EMERGENCY CALL
SIGNAL BOOSTING
SUPERVISION & ALARMS