Measurements and characterisation of low and medium voltage residential, commercial, and industrial NB‐PLC networks for AMI

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) based on narrowband power line communications (NB-PLC) by incorporating all possible types of low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) power line channels. The extensive field measurements are carried out on six selected sites that include residential, commercial, and industrial LV and MV NB-PLC channels. On the basis of measured results, NB-PLC channels of various under evaluation sites are segregated into two classes i.e. worst and good channels for both LV and MV networks. The simulation models for the modelling of LV and MV NB-PLC channels by considering the practical data of measured sites are developed and thus proposed. The proposed methods are validated by comparing the measured and simulated results. A sophisticated mechanism for the modelling of LV and MV network impedances and capacitive coupling device is formulated. The proposed analyses and simulation-based NB-PLC channel models can play a key role in examining the characteristics of various types of NB-PLC channels. This research work will help to standardise the future smart metering equipment and sensing devices of power system protection.