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Cat Ali Otti 2012
Cat Ali Otti 2012
Cat Ali Otti 2012
Abstract—The aim of this paper is to characterize oil-filled A wide range of communication technologies are involved
power transformers in the narrow-band power-line communi- in the development of smart grid infrastructures, each one
cation (PLC) frequency range of 50–150 kHz. A new model is having its advantages and drawbacks: wire lines and fiber-optic
proposed for such type of a transformer, in the aforementioned
frequency range of interest, in order to study its influence on the cables, wireless communication (CDMA, GSM, GPRS, UMTS,
signal transmission and to investigate the possibility that the PLC WiMAX, HiperLAN, etc.), radio communication, wireless lo-
signal can cross the power transformer itself. The new model is cal area networks (WLAN, WiFi, ZigBee, etc.), and power-line
simpler than those previously proposed in literature, and it can be communications (PLCs) [4], [5]. Among these technologies,
used in the whole frequency range available for NB PLC according the PLCs could play a fundamental role since the lines are
to the CENELEC EN 50065-1 A-band. In order to validate the
model, simulation and measurement results are compared for four already present (i.e., the power lines), and they have no service
oil-filled power transformers with different rated power values. cost. PLCs have already exited the experimental phase, and they
A complete PLC system in the case of a medium-voltage (MV) are a mature technology for the deployment in low-voltage (LV)
power network is also simulated, in order to perform a prelim- networks in Europe. In fact narrow-band (NB) PLCs, operating
inary evaluation of the influence of power transformers on the in the CENELEC bands (3–148.5 kHz) [6], have gained a cen-
communication system. The MV overhead power line, the oil-filled
power transformers, the MV signal coupling network, and two tral role for supporting automatic meter reading and advanced
ST7540 frequency shift keying (FSK) power-line transceivers are metering infrastructure in LV networks [4]. Nevertheless, the
included in the simulated system. The performances of the com- application of the PLC technology in the medium-voltage (MV)
plete PLC communication system are evaluated in the case of both networks is still under study. In literature, different studies
MV to low voltage (LV) and LV to MV transmissions. The analysis have been presented on the behavior both of high-voltage (HV)
is carried out by evaluating the signal attenuation, which is com-
puted as the ratio between the received and transmitted voltage and MV overhead lines and on LV cables at high frequency
signals, in the case of different line lengths and carrier frequency (HF) [6]–[11]. On the other hand, most of these studies do not
values. consider a complete model of the PLC system, or they do not
Index Terms—Attenuation, communication equipment testing, carry out experimental tests.
communication systems, narrow-band power-line communication Currently, two open issues are considered concerning the
(NB-PLC), power system communication, power transformers. PLC technology applications in MV networks: the coupling
system for the injection of the signal in the MV lines and the
I. I NTRODUCTION power-transformer behavior. The latter is considered as an ele-
different models of the power transformer were presented for than the models previously presented in literature, such as
low, medium, and high frequencies. the one proposed in [16], and it can be used in the whole
In addition, the authors carried out some studies in the field frequency range available for the NB PLC. On the contrary,
of the PLC technology applications in MV networks. First, in in [16], two different models are used to cover the frequency
[17] and [18], an MV cable model in the PLC frequency range range of interest. In this paper, the reliability of the proposed
was presented and experimentally validated. Second, a com- model is verified by means of experimental measurements on
plete PLC system model was experimentally validated both in four oil-filled power transformers, which have different rated
laboratory [20] and on field [21] tests; the model was developed power values. Furthermore, a complete model of a MV/LV
in the case of MV cables, including also the transformer model power system for PLC communications is presented, which
proposed in [16]. Finally, in [22], the PLC system was studied was developed in order to perform a preliminary simulation
in the case of MV overhead lines. In all the mentioned papers, study concerning the influence of the power transformer on
a frequency range of 30–100 kHz and the power-transformer signal transmission. The model includes an MV overhead
model proposed in [16] were considered, and the possibility power line, two power transformers, an MV signal coupling
that the PLC signal can cross the power transformer was not network (CN), and two ST7540 FSK power line. The signal
investigated. is injected between one phase and the earth [22]. The simu-
The aim of this paper is to characterize oil-filled power trans- lation results are presented and discussed; they are expressed
formers in the NB PLC frequency range (i.e., 50–150 kHz) and in terms of attenuation for different line lengths and center
to propose a new transformer model, in order to study the influ- frequency values both in LV–MV and in MV–LV communi-
ence of the power transformer on signal transmission and to in- cation. The advantage of the proposed model is that it can be
vestigate the possibility that the PLC signal can cross the power easily implemented in the Simulink environment, thus allowing
transformer itself. The chosen frequency range is the ST7540 to perform a planning of an MV PLC transmission system.
FSK power-line transceiver operative frequency range, and it Moreover, since the model includes the power transformers,
includes the A-band reserved by the CENELEC EN 50065-1 [6] both the MV–LV and the LV–MV communication can be
for energy utilities. The proposed transformer model is simpler simulated.
2644 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT, VOL. 61, NO. 10, OCTOBER 2012
the magnitude difference is smaller than 1%, and the phase dif-
ference is smaller than 0.6◦ , as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the mag-
netizing inductance and the ideal transformer can be neglected
and replaced by a short circuit. By observing the frequency tance RL can be evaluated as the mean value of the real part of
trend in Fig. 4, ZL can be replaced with series impedance the short-circuit impedance, i.e.,
ZL = RL + jωLL (whereas in [16], it was modeled as a paral-
lel RL circuit). The inductance LL can be calculated as RL = meanvalue (Re [ZL (f )]) . (2)
Im [ZL (f )]
LL = meanvalue (1) The impedance measurements are shown in Fig. 6; they were
2πf
carried out according to the measurement schemas Capacitance
where Im[ZL ] is the imaginary part of the short-circuit 1, 2, and 3 of Fig. 2. As shown in the figure, the impedance
impedance, and f is the frequency. In the same way, the resis- behaviors are almost capacitive: The phase angles are between
2646 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT, VOL. 61, NO. 10, OCTOBER 2012
where Im[Zi ] is the imaginary part of the impedance measured due to each phase is one third of that of the neutral terminal.
in each of the three capacitance tests. Therefore, the capacitance values C1 , C2 , and C12 can be
The impedance Z12 , can be substituted by a capacitance evaluated from the Cap1, Cap2, and Cap3 according to the
value that is equal to C12 (whereas in [16], it was assumed as a equivalent circuits in Fig. 7 and the following:
series resonant circuit). Moreover, the capacitance between the
inner side of the LV windings and the earth has to be considered 3C1 + 6C12 = Cap1
for each of the three phases and not only for the neutral 6C2 + 6C12 = Cap2 (4)
terminal, as done in [16]. However, the capacitive contribution 3C1 + 6C2 = Cap3
CATALIOTTI et al.: OIL-FILLED MV/LV POWER-TRANSFORMER BEHAVIOR IN NB PLC SYSTEMS 2647
TABLE II
T RANSFORMER PARAMETERS
Fig. 16. Frequency response of a 250-kVA power transformer: comparison Fig. 18. Frequency response of a 630-kVA power transformer: comparison
between measurement and simulation. A maximum error of 0.7 dB between between measurement and simulation. A maximum error of 1.4 dB between
measurement and simulation results was found in the frequency range analyzed. measurement and simulation results was found in the frequency range analyzed.
Fig. 20. Simulation results of the attenuation versus signal frequency for a Fig. 22. Simulation results of the attenuation versus signal frequency for a
0.25-km MV line. The signal was injected in the MV network and received 1-km MV line. The signal was injected in the MV network and received from
from the LV network. the LV network.
Fig. 21. Simulation results of the attenuation versus signal frequency for a
Fig. 23. Simulation results of the attenuation versus signal frequency for a
0.25-km MV line. The signal was injected in the LV network and received from 1-km MV line. The signal was injected in the LV network and received from
the MV network.
the MV network.
Furthermore, a complete PLC system in an MV power net-
work was simulated, in order to carry out a preliminary study mission. In each simulated case, the attenuation always depends
of the influence of power transformer on signal transmission. from both the line length and the frequency of the signal. This
The simulated PLC system is composed of an MV overhead is mainly due to the resonant behavior of the line for some
power line, two power transformers, an MV coupling network, frequencies. Due to the experimentally validated models of the
and two FSK power-line transceivers. The transmission system different PLC system components and the power-transformer
was based on line-to-earth configuration, i.e., the signal was frequency-response experimental results, the preliminary simu-
injected between one of the three conductors and the earth. lation results show the possibility that the PLC signal can cross
Thus, the influence of the earth was also taken into account in the power transformer and the feasibility of the employment of
the model. Various simulations were carried out, in the case the PLC technology in MV networks. This is one of the key
of both LV–MV and MV–LV transmissions. The simulation aspects for an extensive applicability of this communication
results showed larger attenuation in the case of LV–MV trans- method in the MV–LV smart grids.
CATALIOTTI et al.: OIL-FILLED MV/LV POWER-TRANSFORMER BEHAVIOR IN NB PLC SYSTEMS 2651
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R EFERENCES
[1] S. M. Amin and B. F. Wollenberg, “Toward a smart grid: Power delivery
for the 21st century,” IEEE Power Energy Mag., vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 34–41,
Sep./Oct. 2005. Antonio Cataliotti (M’01) received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the
[2] E. Santacana, G. Rackliffe, T. Le, and F. Xiaoming, “Getting smart,” IEEE University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, in 1992 and 1998, respectively, all in
Power Energy Mag., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 41–48, Mar./Apr. 2010. electrical engineering.
[3] T. F. Garrity, “Getting smart,” IEEE Power Energy Mag., vol. 6, no. 2, In 2000, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor, and since 2005, he has
pp. 38–45, Mar./Apr. 2008. been an Associate Professor of electrical and electronic measurements with
[4] A. Ipakchi and F. Albuyeh, “Grid of the future,” IEEE Power Energy Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Telecommunication Engineering,
Mag., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 52–62, Mar./Apr. 2009. Chemical Technologies, Automation, and Mathematical Models, University of
[5] P. P. Parikh, M. G. Kanabar, and T. S. Sidhu, “Opportunities and chal- Palermo. His research interests include electrical drive control and diagnostics,
lenges of wireless communication technologies for smart grid applica- digital signal processing, testing of electrical machines and drives, power
tions,” in Proc. IEEE Power Energy Soc. Gen. Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, quality measurements, and the detection of sources of disturbances in power
Jul. 25–29, 2010, pp. 1–7. systems.
[6] Signalling on Low-Voltage Electrical Installations in the Frequency
Range 3 to 148.5 kHz—Part 1: General Requirements, Frequency
Bands and Electromagnetic Disturbances, EN 50065-1:1991, Amend-
ment A1:1992 to EN 50065-1:1991; Amendment A2:1995 to EN 50065-
1:1991; Amendment A3:1996 to EN 50065-1:1991, 1991.
[7] J. Anatory, N. Theethayi, R. Thottappillil, M. M. Kissaka, and Valentina Cosentino received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical en-
N. H. Mvungi, “The influence of load impedance, line length, and gineering from the University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, in 2001 and 2005,
branches on underground cable power-line communications (PLC) sys- respectively.
tems,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 180–187, Jan. 2008. From 2005 to 2010, she was a Temporary Research Fellow with Department
[8] R. Cortina, G. Pioltini, S. Celozzi, and M. D’Amore, “Telecommunication of Electrical, Electronic, and Telecommunication Engineering, Chemical Tech-
systems on power distribution networks: High frequency performances of nologies, Automation, and Mathematical Models, (DIEETCAM), University of
carrier channels,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 654–660, Palermo. She is currently an Assistant Professor of electrical and electronic
Apr. 1994. measurements with DIEETCAM. Her research interests include power, energy
[9] M. E. Hardy, S. Ardalan, J. B. O’Neal, L. J. Gale, and K. C. Shuey, and power quality measurements, detection of sources of disturbances in power
“A model for communication signal propagation on three phase power systems, digital signal processing, and virtual instrumentation.
2652 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT, VOL. 61, NO. 10, OCTOBER 2012
Dario Di Cara received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering Giovanni Tinè was born in Palermo, Italy, in 1961. He received the Ph.D.
from the University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, in 2005 and 2009, respectively. degree in electronics, computer science, and telecommunications engineering
From June 2009 to July 2010, he was a Postdoctoral Student with the from the University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, in 1994.
National Research Council–Institute of Intelligent System for Automation He is currently a Researcher with the National Research Council—Institute
(CNR-ISSIA), Palermo. He is currently a Postdoctoral Student with the Depart- of Intelligent System for Automation (CNR-ISSIA), Palermo. His research
ment of Electrical, Electronic, and Telecommunication Engineering, University interests are electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of power electrical drive
of Palermo. His current research interests include power quality measurements, systems, EMC of dual-voltage electric devices, and power-line communication
characterization of current transducers in nonsinusoidal condition, harmonic in medium-voltage systems.
power measurements, power-line communications.