Abstract
Narrowband (NB) powerline communication (PLC) is extensively adopted by utilities for the communication in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems. PLC technology needs to overcome channel disturbances present in certain grid segments. This study analyzes improvement proposals of the physical layer of the main narrowband PLC technologies approved by international communication organizations that are currently deployed in Europe: Powerline Intelligent Metering Evolution (PRIME) 1.3.6, PRIME 1.4, and G3-PLC, in order to improve PLC performance under channel disturbances. This thorough study is based on simulations carried out by an innovative ad hoc Virtual PLC Lab, developed by the authors, applied in replicable, fully-automated, and cost reduced test scenarios. The analysis is performed by applying standardized test methods and metrics, and by evaluating the influence of a set of representative channel disturbances defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and selected noises generated by distributed energy resources (DER) in normal operation. PLC performance improvements in terms of equalizer curve fitting, error correction codes, and noisy subcarrier suppression mechanisms are presented. The performance gain due to each physical improvement proposal is accurately measured and compared under the same conditions in a replicable and automated test environment in order to evaluate the use of the proposals in the evolution of future PLC technologies.
Highlights
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployments have changed the perception of the low voltage (LV) distribution grid
This paper proposes the use of a Virtual powerline communication (PLC) Lab to evaluate the performance of several improvement proposals for several PLC technologies
This covers disturbance sources of European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and distributed energy resources (DER), metrics defined by ETSI, and additional metrics defined in [10]
Summary
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployments have changed the perception of the low voltage (LV) distribution grid. Smart meters scattered over the network offer LV grid visibility and accessibility. Distribution companies are able to go one step beyond towards an advanced real-time representation, visibility, control, operation, and management of the LV network. Powerline communication (PLC) is the most extended solution for the communication in these AMI systems [1]. Focusing on NB PLC technologies deployed in Europe, Powerline Intelligent Metering. Evolution (PRIME) and G3-PLC are the most common standards [1]. The downside of this solution is that the electricity network is a complex communication channel with interferences and disturbances introduced by other devices connected to the network. In the LV grid, there is a very large variety of types and levels of disturbances in the communication channel, mainly classified by propagation channel effects, interfering noise, and non-intentional emissions
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