POWER SYSTEM COMMUNICATION

1 POWER LINE CARRIER COMMUNICATION (PLCC)

2 MICROWAVE SYSTEM
3 FIBRE OPTIC SYSTEM
4 VSAT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

PLCC
 USES ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS OF EHV/HV
TRANSMISSION LINES FOR PROPAGATION OF
CARRIER SIGNALS. THEREBY DOES NOT
REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL WIRE.
 OLDEST FORM OF COMMUNICATION
 MODULATED COMMUNICATION SIGNALS ON
EHV PHASE CONDUCTORS THROUGH
COUPLING EQUIPMENTT
 ELEMENTS OF PLCC SYSTEM

• LINE TRAPS
• COUPLING DEVICES
• COUPLING CAPACITOR/CAPACITOR
VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER (CVT)
• COAXIAL CABLE
• CARRIER TERMINAL
• POTECTION COUPLER
• PABX
 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
REQUIREMENT
• INFORMATION TO BE TRANSMITTED IN
THE FORM OF SIGNALS
• DEVICE TO CONVERT THE DATA/VOICE
SIGNALS IN TO CARRIER SIGNALS
SUITABLE FOR TRANSMISSION OVER
THE SELECTED MEDIUM
• MEDIUM FOR TRANSMISSION (TELEPHONE
LINES, COPPER CONDUCTORS, ELECTRICAL PHASE
CONDUCTORS, EARTH WIRES, FIBRE OPTIC CABLES
ETC.)
• DEVICE TO RETRIEVE INFORMATION
FROM THE CARRIER SIGNALS.
 FREEQUENCY RANGES IN PLCC
SYSTEM
•AUDIO
– 4KHz AUDIO BAND IS USED FOR
TRANSMITTION VOICE & DATA.
•VOICE 0.3 –2.0 KHz
•DATA 2.1 – 3.4 KHZ
•CARRIER FREQUENCY BAND
– 30 KHz - 500 KHz. HIGH FREQUENCY
RANGE IS USED FOR CARRIER SIGNALS

SPEECH & DATA SIGNALS WILL BE TRANSMITTED IN

THE 4KHz BANDWIDTH IN EACH DIRECTION OVER
THE CARRIER.
Eg. WITH 100/104 KHz CARRIER FREQUENCY, THE
TRANSMIT SIGNALS WILL BE 100-104 KHz AND RECEIVE
SIGNALS WILL BE 104-108 KHz RANGE.
FUNCTIOS OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN
PLCC SYSTEM
• LINE TRAPS
A DEVICE DIRECTLY CONNECTED IN SERIES OF
A PHASE CONDUCTOR.
– OFFERS NEGLISIBLE IMPEDANCE TO POWER
FREQUENCY CURRENTS
– OFFERS HIGH IMPEDANCE TO CARRIER SIGNALS
FOR DEFINED BLOCKING BAND OF LINE TRAPS.
– LINE TRAP RATINGS
 0.5mH /2000A , 0.5 mH /1000 A
 1.0 mH/2000A, 1.0 mH/1000 A.
– mH SELECTED BASED ON THE REQUIREMENT OF
BLOCKING BAND.
– CURRENT RATING WILL BE SELECTED BASED ON
THE POWER FLOW IN THE EHV LINE.
FUNCTIOS OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN
PLCC SYSTEM
• COUPLING CAPACITOR/CVT
THIS PROVIDES COUPLING BETWEEN
EHV/HV LINE AND COMMUNICATION
EQUIPMENT. TYPICAL RATINGS ARE
3300/4400/6600/8800 pf.
• COUPLING DEVICE
– CONSISTS OF SURGE ARRESTOR, DRAIN
COIL, MATCHING TRANSFORMER, EARTH
SWITCH.
– PROVIDE IMPEDANCE MATCHING
– THIS IS BAND PASS FILTER. THE BAND
DEPENDS ON CAPACITANCE OF OF
CC/CVT.
FUNCTIOS OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN
PLCC SYSTEM
• COAXIAL CABLE
CONNECTS THE CARRIER TERMINAL IN
THE CONTROL ROOM TO COUPLING
DEVICE IN THE SWITCHYARD.
• CARRIER TERMINAL
BASIC COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT TO
CONNECT 0.3-3.4 Khz VOICE & DATA
SIGNALS
• PROTECTION COUPLER
THIS IS USED TO INTERFACE THE
PROTECTIVE RELAY WITH THE
CARRIER TERMINAL.
 COUPLING TYPES IN PLCC SYSTEM

LINE TRAP, COUPLIING DVICE & CC/CVT

CALLED COUPLING EQUIPMENT. THE
FUNCTIONS OF COUPLING EQUIPMENT ARE
a) TO INJECT CARRIER SIGNALS TO
EHV CONDUCTORS W/O UNDUE LOSS.
b) TO DECOUPLE CARRIER EQUIPMENT
FROM EHV POWER LINE
TYPE OF COUPLING SYSTEMS
– PHASE TO EARTH
– PHASE TO PHASE
– INTER CIRCUIT
– INSULATED EARTH WIRE COUPLING
– COUPLING TO POWER CABLES.
 TYPICAL PLCC ARRANGEMENT FOR S/C LINES
PHASE-GROUND COUPLING
E/W CKT-I E/W
R R
Y Y
B B

CVT/CC
CVT/CC

CD CD
 COUPLING IN PLCC SYSTEM

PHASE TO GROUND COUPLING

– SIMPLE SYSTEM OF PLCC, ONLY ONE
COUPLING CAPACITOR AND ONE LINE
TRAP REQUIRED AT ONE END.
– EONOMICAL
BUT
– LESS RELIABILITY/SECURITY IN THE
EVENT OF FAULT IN THE CONNECTED
PHASE.
– MORE NOISE
– HIGHER ATTENUATION
 TYPICAL PLCC ARRANGEMENT FOR S/C LINES PHASE-PHASE
COUPLING
E/W CKT-I E/W
R R
Y Y
B B

CVT/CC

LMU LMU LMU LMU

BT CD BT CD
 COUPLING IN PLCC SYSTEM

PHASE TO PHASE COUPLING

– TWO COUPLING CAPACITOR AND TWO LINE
TRAP REQUIRED AT ONE END.
– DOUBLE THE O/D EQUIPMENT COST
COMPARED TO PHASE TO EARTH SYSTEM
BUT
– HIGH RELIABILITY/SECURITY. MOST OF THE
FAULTS ARE SINGLE PHASE TO EARTH. STILL
THE COMMUNICATION IS WORKING
– LESS NOISE/INTERFERENCE
– LESSER ATTENUATION
 TYPICAL PLCC ARRANGEMENT FOR D/C LINES (Inter circuit
Coupling)
E/W CKT-I E/W
R R
Y Y
B B
R CKT-II R
Y Y
B B
E/W E/W

CVT/CC CVT/CC

LMU LMU LMU LMU

CD CD
BT BT

FOR FOR FOR FOR

CKT-II CKT-I CKT-I CKT-II
 COUPLING IN PLCC SYSTEM

INTER CIRCUIT COUPLING

THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE

THE ADVANTAGES OF PHASE TO PHASE
COUPLING AND PROVIDE ADDITION
BENEFIT OF WORKING IN THE EVENT OF
SHUT DOWN OF ONE OF THE TWO
CIRCUITS OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE.
 COUPLING IN PLCC SYSTEM
INSULATED EARTH WIRE COUPLING

INSULATED EARTH WIRE PROTECTED WITH SPARK GAPS

IS USED IN SOME TRANSMISSION LINES, IN THIS CASE
INSULATED EARTH WIRE COUPLING IS USED.

THIS WILL BENEFIT IN TERMS OF THE RATING OF

COUPLING EQUIPMENTS.

BUT, THIS OFFERS MORE ATTENUATION COMPARED TO

CONDUCTORS, COSTLIER INCASE OF LONG LINES AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF EARTNING TO FAULT IS REDUCED
DUE TO SPARK GAPS (COMPARED TO SOILD EARTHED)

HENCE IT IS RARELY USED.

 COUPLING IN PLCC SYSTEM

COUPLING TO POWER CABLES

SIMILAR TO OVERHEAD LINES PHASE TO

CROUND/PHASE TO PHASE CAN BE
ADOPTED.

CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE OF CABLES

IS LESS. HENCE, INDUCTANCE OF LINE
TRAPS DECREASES AND CAPACITANCE OF
CAPACITORS INCREASES COMPARED TO
OVERHEAD LINES.
 ARRANGEMENT FOR PROTECTION ON
LINES USING FO SYSTEM
E/W CKT-I E/W
R R
Y Y
B B
R CKT-II R
Y Y
B B
OPGW OPGW

SDH EQUIPMENT SDH EQUIPMENT

MUX PROT I/F PROT I/F MUX

CKT-I CKT-I
CKT-II CKT-II
CKT-I CKT-I
CKT-II CKT-II
CD CD

FOR FOR FOR FOR

CKT-II CKT-I CKT-I CKT-II
 PLCC SYSTEM PLANNING

CARRIER FREQUENCY REQUIREMENT

 SYSTEM BANDWIDTH
 SPEECH ONLY CHANNELS 0.3-3.4 KHz
 SPEECH+DATA CHANNELS 0.3-2.4 KHz SPEECH
2.6-3.4 KHz DATA
 SPEECH+DATA CHANNELS 0.3-2.0 KHz SPEECH
2.1-3.4 KHz DATA
 4 KHz FOR EACH DIRECTION CARRIER IS 30-500KHz
RANGE
 CONSIDERATIONS FOR CARRIER FREQUENCY
SELECTION
 APPROVAL OF GOVT. OF INDIA
 ATTENUATION INCREASES WITH LENGTH &
FREQUENCY
 COUPLING FILTER, COUPLING OF LINE TRAPS AND CVTs
WHEN TWO LINE SECTION GAPS ARE AVAILABLE.
 PLCC SYSTEM PLANNING

 FACTORS AFFECTING THE OVERALL LOSSES

IN PLCC SYSTEM

LINE LENGTH & CONDUCTOR CONFIGURATION

STRUCTURE OF PHASE CONDUCTOR
STRUCTURE OF EARTH WIRE
CARRIER FREQUENCY
COUPLING METHOD
EARTH RESISTIVITY
TOWER EFFECTS
WEATHER CONDITIONS
DISCONTINUTIES (TRANSPOSITION, TAPPED LINES,
CABLE INSERTS ETC.)
COUPLING LOSSES (losses in coupling equipment)
 PLCC SYSTEM PLANNING

LINE ATTENUATION

aline= 1 . l + 2ac+ aadd

= 7x10-2 {d .
c
f
n
.}
+ 10-3 f

f = frequency in KHz
dc= Dia of phase conductor
n = no of phase conductors in bundle
 PLCC SYSTEM PLANNING

 NOISE AND INTERFERENCE

CORONA NOISE IN 4KHz BAND

< 220 KV -35 dBm TO –25 dBm

 220KV -20 dBm TO –10 dBm

P = 10 log {BW in KHz

4 KHz
}
IMPULSE NOISE
• LIGHTNING DISCHARGE
• ISOLATOR SWITCHING
• CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATION
• GROUND FAULT
• BURNING ARC
 PLCC SYSTEM PLANNING

PERMISIBLE SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO

SPEECH CHANNELS
 SHALL BE DESIGNED FOR 25 dB SNR UNDER
ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
SIGNALLING
 SHALL BE DESIGNED FOR FSK SIGNALLING UP
TO 1200 BAUD IS 15 dB
PROTECTION CHANNELS
 IMPULSE NOISE IS MORE PREDOMINENT
INCASE OF PROTECTION. SNR REQUIREMENT
IS MORE DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF
PROTECTION SIGNALS TRANSMITTED.
PLCC SYSTEM MODULATION

SINGLE SIDEBAND (SSB) AMPLITUDE

THIS MODULATION IS USED IN PRESENT
DAY APPLIACTIONS.
CONCENTRATION OF AVAILABLE POWER
TO SPEECH OR SUPERIMPOSED SIGNALS
IN UPPER OR LOWER SIDEBAND.
SUITABLE FOR MULTIPLE HOPS AS IT
PRODUCES ZERO ERROR IN THE
RECONSISTITUTS VF.
HIGHER AVAILABILITY OF FREQUENCY
SPACE AND ADDITIONAL POWER OTHER
SIGNALS.
 PLCC SYSTEM MODULATION

DOUBLE SIDEBAND AMPLITUDE

MODULATION IS NOT USED IN
PRESENT DAY APPLIACTIONS. AS
THIS REQUIRES HIGHER
BANDWIDTH.

FREQUENCY MODULATION IS GENERALY NOT

USED DUE TO RESTRICTED FREQUENCY
SPECTRUM.
 PLCC SYSTEM BUILDING BLOCKS

AUDIO FREQUENCY (AF) SECTION

 TRANSMITTER & RECEIVER IN AF SECTION
PROVIDE THE INTERFACES FOR VOICE AND DATA
INPUT AND OUTPUT
INTERMEDIATE FREQUENCY (IF) SECTION
 TRANSMITTER CONVERTER CONVERTS AF TO IF
 RECEIVER CONVERTER CONVERTS IF TO AF.
CARRIER FREQUENCY SECTION
 TRANSMITTER CONVERTER CONVERTS IF TO RF
 RECEIVER CONVERTER CONVERTS RF TO IF.
 PLCC SYSTEM BUILDING BLOCKS

CARRIER SYNTHESIZER (OSCILLATOR)

 PROVIDES THE DESIRED CARRIER AND IF FREQUENCIES,
WHICH ARE DERIVED FROM THE OCILLATOR FOR
MODULATION.
POWER AMPLIFIER SECTION
 POWER AMPLIFIER
 TRANSMIT FILTERS
 RF HYBRID TO DECOUPLE Tx & Rx.
PILOT AND SUPERVISION SECTION
 PROVIDE PILOT CHANNEL
 TEST TONE
 TESTING FACILITIES AND AUXILLIARY FUNCTIONS SUCH
AS LOOPS, POWER SUPPLY MONITORING, ALARMS ETC.
 FACTORS INFLUENCING PLCC
SYSTEM FREQUENCY PLANING
 LINE LENGTH
 LINE ATTENUATION
 EXISTING FREQUENCIES
 BANDWIDTH AND FREQNCY SPACING
 CONSIDERING THE 4 KHz CHANNELS Tx/Tx CHANNEL
SPACING FOR PARALLEL CHANNELS SHALL BE
MINIMUM 12 KHz. AND Tx/Rx CHANNEL SPACING
SHALL BE 8 KHz.
 ADJUCENT CHANNELS 4 KHz FROM BOTH Tx AND Rx.
 REPEATITION OF CARRIER FREUENCIES WITH
TWO HOPS IN THE VOLTAGE SECTIONS.
 LINE COUPLING AND TUNING
 PLCC SYSTEM COMMISIONING

DURING THE COMMISSIONING OF PLCC THE

FOLOWING BASIC TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED:
 BEST PHASE SELECTION FOR LINE COUPLING.
 RETURN LOS MEASUREMENT FOR IMPEDANCE MATCHING
WITH CO-AXIAL CABLE
 LINE ATTENUATION
 PRILIMINARY CHECKS SUCH AS EARTHING, POLARITY OF
POWER SUPPLY, CABLINMG, HARDWARE MODULES,
POGRAMING AND SETTINGS IN THE UNITS
 TRANSMIT LEVEL SETTING, GAIN CONTROL SETTINGS,
FREQUENCY DISTORTION EQUALISATION,
 LOCAL LOOP AND DUMMY LOAD TEST.
 REMOTE LOOP TEST
 RF CHANNEL FREQUENCY PROGRAMING IF REQUIRED.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN PLCC

DIGITAL PLCC
DECOUPLING NETWORKS

LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF FREQUENCY,

EX[PANSSION REQUIREMENTS AND CACITY
INCREASE NECISSIATES THE DIGITAL PLCC 7
DECOUPLING NETWORKS.
 NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN PLCC

DIGITAL PLCC

THIS USES DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.

UTILISES 8 KHz (CONTIGUOUS) FOR FULL DUPLEX

CHANNEL

32 KBPS DATA OF VOICE/DATA/TELEPROTECTION

CAN BE SENT. THIS CAN ACCOMIDATE 3 SPEECH
AND 9 DATA CHANNELS.

MEETS IEC 495 STANDARDS

 NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN PLCC

DECOUPLERS

THE PLC SPECTRUM RESTRICTIONS

REPETITITION OF FREQUENCIES IN
CONVENTIONAL WAY IS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO
CROSS STATION ATTENUATION

NETWORK DECOUPLERS CAN ENHANCE THE

CROSS STATION ATTENUATION.