Abstract
The electricity network is a complex communication medium with properties that depend on both the topology of the grid and the usage pattern of the connected devices. These devices generate channel disturbances during normal operation, which need to be overcome by power line communications (PLC) transmission technologies for ensuring communication. This paper analyzes the influence of the channel disturbances on the performance of the physical layer of the main narrowband PLC technologies approved by international communication organisms and currently deployed in Europe: PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution (PRIME) 1.3.6, PRIME 1.4 and G3-PLC. The methodology of this paper applies a standardized test method, metrics and a set of representative channel disturbances defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Moreover, noise recordings from field measurements in an environment equipped with distributed energy resources (DER) complete the subset of the types of noise used in the study. This paper develops a replicable, fully automated, and cost optimized test scenario, based on an innovative Virtual PLC Laboratory, which provides a replicable and automated test process, where a wide range of channel disturbances can be accurately replicated, and the performance of the PLC technologies can be compared under the same conditions. The results of this paper provide important conclusions to be applied in the development of future PLC technologies.
Highlights
Smart Grids can efficiently integrate the activity and needs of all the connected users
Narrowband power line communications (PLC) is a solution extensively adopted by utilities to create a communication network for the electricity Smart Meters, as it does not require a dedicated communication medium deployment and its deployment and operational costs are low compared to other technologies
This way, the performance of these technologies is compared thoroughly under the same conditions, following a standardized test method and metrics defined by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standardization organization
Summary
Smart Grids can efficiently integrate the activity and needs of all the connected users. Power Line Communications (PLC) technologies are used to communicate signals through the power line, being the key to the automation level of electricity distribution. A study about the smart grid projects in Europe evaluates the most developed technological solutions for LV metering applications. These studies select ZigBee and narrowband PLC technology as the most popular technologies for AMI systems communication [2]. Narrowband PLC is a solution extensively adopted by utilities to create a communication network for the electricity Smart Meters, as it does not require a dedicated communication medium deployment and its deployment and operational costs are low compared to other technologies
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