PLCC Communication and

Designing of a GSS
GSS(grid sub-station) and Communication using PLCC

INTROCTION: BBMB

BBMB has an installed capacity of 2882.73 MW - the largest base of Hydro Power in
India with a high plant load factor.
BBMB also transmits Power in the Northern Grid through a wide network of 3735 KM of
400 KV, 220 KV, 132 KV and 66 KV transmission lines.
BBMB maintains the largest reservoirs in the country such as Bhakra and Pong Dams.
Bhakra, Nangal and Beas Dams have controlled the floods and have also brought
prosperity to the partner states of Northern India.

Substation communication PLCC

Power Line Communication (PLC) is a communication technology that
enables sending data over existing power cables.
Power-line communication(PLC) is a communication protocol that
uses electrical wiring to simultaneously carry both data, and Alternating
Current (AC).
PLCC is used in all power utilities as a primary communication service to
transmit speech, telemetry and protection tripping commands.
It is also known aspower-line carrier,power-line digital subscriber
line(PDSL),mains communication,power-line
telecommunications, orpower-line networking(PLN).

Contd.

The power line as a rigid long conductor parallel to ground, guides the carrier
waves to travel along the transmission line.
The voice/data are mixed with radio frequency carrier (40-500kHz), amplified to a
level of 10-80W RF power and injected in to high voltage power line using a suitable
coupling capacitor.
This is economic and reliable for inter grid message transfer as well as low bit rate
RTU signals.
Point to point communication takes place between two SSB transceivers at both
ends.

Understanding PLC
For the purpose of understanding, PLC can be broadly viewed as:
1. Narrowband PLC
2. Broadband PLC
Narrowband PLC works at lower frequencies (3-500 kHz), lower data rates (up to 100s
of kbps), and has longer range (up to several kilometers), which can be extended
using repeaters.
Broadband PLC works at higher frequencies (1.8-250 MHz), high data rates (up to 100s
of Mbps) and is used in shorter-range applications.

Components
PLCC Terminal = Translates Voice and data into High Frequency Carrier. Output Power =10 to 80W
LMU = Line Matching Unit = For impedance matching between line and coaxial cable, includes high
voltage protection devices like drainage coil(20mH), lightening arrestor(500V) and an earth switch.
Coupling Capacitor (C.C) = Couples high frequency carrier with Power Line ( 4000 to10000pF)
Line Trap (L.T) = Do not allow the transmitted HF carrier to enter inside the sub-station. (L = 0.5 to 2mH)
With out Line trap HF carrier get by- passed to some other line on the same bus bar and may leak to
ground ( a earth switch inside the yard provided for each bay is kept closed during maintenance)

Pictorial Diagram
L.T
Power Line
(50Hz)

C.C
RF carrier
(40-500kHz)

PAX

RTU
PLCC TERMINAL

RTU Remote Terminal Unit

In an effort to aggregate these multiple signal types, Remote Terminal Units, or RTUs,
were deployed.
RTUs have the ability to communicate with different generations of equipment and
data protocols, and many use a relatively modern T1 interface to provide a standard
way of communicating status and control to central sites.
Each 1.544 Mbps T1 carries the equivalent of 24 separate phone conversations-more
than enough capacity to support most existing substation communication needs.

Line trap function = PLC signal

blocking

Line Trap: It offers high

impedance for PLC signal and
Low impedance for Power
energy

Power
energy
PLC
Signal

Substatio
n

Line Traps Mounting Options

Vertical Pedestal

Horizontal Pedestal

Suspension

LMU function

LMU = impedance matching Transformer + high voltage

Protection

To prevent dangerous potential on the PLCC connection

Matching

To match PLCC set & transmission Line

LMU

Protection

PLCC Panel ( type: ABB ETL 41/42)

Cabinet

Module

PLCC Panel Tx Block

PLCC Panel Rx Block

Advantages

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.
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.

Disadvantages

Proper care has to be taken to guard carrier equipment and persons using them
against high voltages and currents on the lines.
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, switching processes.

Design of a Substation

Substation are an important part of the national grid .They contain

transformers which increase or decrease the voltage.
We know that the generated voltage do not exceed 20 kilo volts.
Therefore, we need a substation for the transmission and
distribution system.

Challenge:
Optimal
technical
performance at
least cost.

Flow Diagram

Decision of Designing a Substation

When we decide to designing a substation we need to put the following points into
consideration
1. Load calculation and Future growth
2. Power grid requirements to prove the power performance
3. Equipments quality and realibility
4. Location of substation
5. Finally cost of design and maintainence

Substation Project Triggers

Load Growth
System Stability
System Reliability
System Capacity

Design Considerations

Low life cycle cost

Safety
Standardization (Equipment and Station Configurations)

Functions of the substation

1. Protection of the transmission system

2. Controlling the exchange of energy
3. Ensure the steady state and transient stability
4. Load shedding and prevention of loss of synchronism
5. Voltage Control ; by tap changing