TECNALIA presented in the European Utility Week 2014 (Amsterdam), the conference “Electromagnetic Disturbances and Blocking Problems in PLC Technologies”. Ibon Arechalde analyzed the problems with noises and impedances in PLC technologies, how TECNALIA´s EMC and Telecom Laboratory can evaluate devices in aggressive environments and how to mitigate the negative effects of noise and impedance in the electrical networks. http://www.tecnalia.com/technological-services/

1. Electromagnetic
Disturbances and
Blocking Problems in
PLC Technologies
IN
European Utility Week 2014
AMSTERDAM
PRESENTED BY
Ibon Arechalde
TECNALIA

2. ARE
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGIC?

3. MAXWELL
EQUATIONS
MASS MEDIA
DIFFERENT VISIONS

5. MAXWELL
EQUATIONS
Measurable
Repeatable
Specific
Attainable
Time dependent
MASS MEDIA
DIFFERENT VISIONS

6. WE USE EMC IN
PLC COMMUNICATIONS

7. USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS
SIGNAL COUPLING:
- Signal can be injected only in 1 phase
- Lower attenuation
- Signal can be transmitted in any direction
- De-phasing among the signal in 3 phases
- Noises in 1 phase also coupled in others
- Noise can be transmitted in any direction
EXAMPLE:
- 2 m of 2 cables (2 phases) are enough to
induct the OFDM signals

8. USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS
SIGNAL PROPAGATION:
Electrical networks are not designed like
telecommunication networks, so:
- Elements in network are not designed for these
frequency bands
- Disturbing elements
- High influence of changes in impedance
- Difficulties through some elements: transformers
EXAMPLE:
- An instantaneous change of impedance can
change the S/N ratio more than the
attenuation of 2 km of cable

9. USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS
OTHER NON-TECHNICAL QUESTIONS:
- Installers should be trained for new
technologies and EMC
- Users should be trained to live with these new
technologies

10. 100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
1
60.00%
50.00%
0
2
Topology Changes
40.00%
100
80
60
40
20
Golden minute
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
meter1
meter2
meter3
meter4
USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS
HOW TO MEASURE THE QUALITY:
- Signal to Noise ratio
- Bit Error Rate
- Error Vector Magnitude
- Successful Information Rate
EXAMPLE:
- SIR to evaluate performance in Smart Meters
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
NOIS - 0 NOIS - 0 NOIS -
6,02
NOIS -
9,54
NOIS -
12,04
NOIS -
13,98
NOIS -
15,56
NOIS -
16,9
NOIS -
18,06
NOIS -
19,08
NOIS - 20 NOIS -
20,83
NOIS -
21,58
NOIS -
22,28
NOIS -
22,92
NOIS -
23,52
NOIS -
24,08
NOIS -
24,61
NOIS -
25,10
NOIS -
25,57
NOIS -
26,02
NOIS -
26,44
Information Availability / Noise
Fabricante A
Fabricante B
Fabricante C
Fabricante D
Fabricante E
Fabricante F
Fabricante G
Fabricante H
0
Fabricante A
Fabricante B
Fabricante C
Fabricante D
Fabricante E
Fabricante F
Fabricante G
Fabricante H
0.00%
Recovery

11. WORKING TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEMS
STANDARDS:
- CENELEC SC205A: Analysis of noises in field
- SGCG Set of Standards: gaps in PLC bands
EXAMPLES:

12. WORKING TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEMS
DURING YEARS WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH:
- Devices that are compliant with standards but
very noisy in the band 2-150 kHz
- Old devices that are not compliant with
standards due to aging
- Noises as the sum of compliant devices

13. WORKING TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEMS
PROJECTS IN TECNALIA:
- Measurements in laboratory
- Measurements in field
EXAMPLE:
- Performance tests evaluating noise from
network or home
- Measurements in field to catch noises and
reproduce in laboratory
- BIDELEK SAREAK project
- Tools for installers to make the roll-out easier

14. PROBLEMS WITH NOISES CAN BE AVOIDED
NOISES CAN BE AVOIDED:
- Filtering
- Improving the devices
- Extending the frequency bands to non-noisy
frequencies
EXAMPLE:
- Analyzing the performance of each
device and manufacturer.
- Evaluation of how the
communication improves with filters
100
80
60
40
20
0
Golden minute
Fabricante A
Fabricante B
Fabricante C
Fabricante D
Fabricante E
Fabricante F
Fabricante G
Fabricante H

15. PROBLEMS WITH NOISES CAN BE AVOIDED
WE ARE ALREADY WORKING IN THAT:

16. CONCLUSIONS

17. CONCLUSIONS
• Coupling & Propagation mean pros and cons in
PLC communications
• Quality in aggressive environment shall be
measured with methods selected according to
Successful Information Rates
• Working in EMC environment we will improve
the PLC technologies
• New standards shall reduce the problems in
PLC communications

18. “We compromise to provide you
best in class services based on
technical knowledge in Smart
Metering solutions and
communication channels”
Pedro Urteaga,
Market and International Director
TECNALIA Research & Innovation

19. CONCLUSIONS
• Problems with noises and impedances exist
• We can assess how aggressive environments
affect the implementation of the technology
• We know how to mitigate the negative effects of
noise and impedance
In TECNALIA we don’t know how to hunt
ghosts with EMC but we know how to
avoid the problems in PLC technologies

20. Ibon.arechalde@tecnalia.com
EUW14, Booth 1D20