Fundamentals of PLC & Teleprotection

Systems

Presented by:
Sajjad Astinfeshan
 Part 1:
PLC (Power Line Carrier)
 Power Line Carrier Communication System
LT
Power Line
(50Hz)

CC
RF carrier
(40-500kHz)

PAX

RTU

PLCC TERMINAL
Transmission line
Power Line Carrier Communication System
 PLC Technology
 PLC system uses the same High Voltage transmission line connecting two sub-stations for
telecommunication purpose.

 PLC is used in all power utilities as a communication service to transmit speech, telemetry
and protection tripping commands.

 The voice/data are mixed with radio frequency carrier (40-500kHz), amplified to a level of 10-
80W RF power and injected in to high voltage power line using a suitable coupling capacitor.

 The power line as a rigid long conductor parallel to ground, guides the carrier waves to
travel along the transmission line.
Components
 Components
 PLCC Terminal = Translates voice and data into High Frequency Carrier. Output Power
=10 to 80W

 LMU = Line Matching Unit = For impedance matching between line and coaxial cable,
includes high voltage protection devices like drainage coil(20mH), lightening arrestor(500V)
and an earth switch.

 Coupling Capacitor = Couples high frequency carrier with Power Line ( 4000 to10000pF)

 Line Trap = Do not allow the transmitted HF carrier to enter inside the sub-station. (L =
0.3 to 2mH)
 Coupling Scheme
Behind Front
Line Trap To remote
substation

Coupling
Capacitor
The PLC signal is
routed to H.V Line
Line
•Transformer(s) Matching
•BusBar Unit
The PLC signal is
not absorbed by the
substation
Coaxial

Local substation

PLC terminal
 Line trap function

HV Line

Power energy

PLC Signal

Substation

Line Trap = High Impedance for PLC signal

Low Impedance for Power energy
 Line Traps Mounting Options

Vertical Pedestal Horizontal Pedestal Suspension

Line Traps Mounting Options
CVT : CAPACITIVE VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER
 LMU function

 LMU = impedance matching Transformer + high voltage Protection

 To prevent dangerous potential on the PLC connection

 To match PLC set & transmission Line

Line Trap

Coupling
Capacitor
s/s

LMU PLC
Coaxial
 Elements of Coupling Device

 Drain coil for draining of HV leakage currents to earth.

 Lightning arrester at the line terminals of coupling device for transients protection

 Transformer for impedance matching and galvanic isolation between line and PLC terminal.

 Earth switch for grounding of line terminals during maintenance.

 High-pass or band-pass filter elements for efficient matching.

 connectivity to equipment room through coaxial cable.

 LMU functional blocks

Substation HV -line
Line
trap
Coupling
capacitor

Tx

or Coax cable Rx

PLC
Cabinet
 HF Coupling modes

Advantages:

 More economical than all others.

LT

Cc

PLC LMU Disadvantages:

 Loss of carrier current.

 Carrier energy & radiation losses are more.

Phase-to-Ground
 Noise pick ups are correspondingly higher.

Applications:

 Short or unimportant lines where carrier protection is not essential.

 HF Coupling modes

Advantages:
LT
LT  Switching conditions have little effect on transmission.
Cc Cc
 Signal attenuation is less.
PLC LMDU LMU  More reliable over longer distances.

Phase-to-Phase
HF Coupling modes

LT

LT

Cc Cc

PLC LMDU LMU

Inter circuit
 Typical PLC Installation

LT
LT
cc cc
C FAX

ETL ETL

FAX

M M

PR PC MS PAX FAX PR PC RTU FAX

PR= Protection relay

FAX = Facsimile equipment
M = Modem
MS = Master station
RTU = Remote terminal unit
PAX = Private automatic
exchange
PR = Protection relay
PC = Computer
M = Modem
 Function of PLC terminal

IF

User Signal AF IF PA R.F Signal

IF RF
(0 to 4 kHz) (40 to 500 kHz)
H H

User Side AF RF Line Side

IF
AF
A gain RF
IF H= hybrid
IF
Function of PLC terminal
Modulation
Modulation
 Part 2:
Tele Protection System
 Introduction

 What is it ?
-> Tele-Communication + Protection – Signalling

 Where is it used ?
-> Mainly at the higher and highest voltage levels

 Why is it used ?
-> Clearance of faults within the shortest possible time
 TPS Standards and Publications

IEC standards:

 IEC 60834-1 Teleprotection equipment of power systems - Performance and testing

Part 1: Narrow-band systems (First edition, 1988)
Part 1: Command systems (Second edition, 1999)

 IEC 60834-2 Performance and testing of teleprotection equipment of power systems

Part 2: Analogue comparison systems (First Edition 1993)

CIGRE publications:

 "Teleprotection Guide", Study Committees 34 + 35, Joint Working Group on

Teleprotection, 1969;

 Revised Version "Protection Systems Using Telecommunication", 1985

 Revised Version "Protection Using Telecommunications", 2000 (in preparation)

 Protection System Architecture
Substation A Substation B
HV-line

Tele- Tele-
Protection Physical Protection
protection protection
Relay Link Relay
Equipment Equipment
Telecommunication
System

Teleprotection System

Protection System
Protection System Architecture
Protection System Architecture
Protection System Architecture
Protection System Architecture
Protection System Architecture
 Communication channels for teleprotection

Audio Frequency Communication Audio Frequency

modulated signal channel modulated signal

Radio Link

Protection Protection
Commands PLC Power Line PLC Commands
TPS TPS

Port 1 Port 1
Port 2
Port 3
Optical Fibre Port 2
Port 3
Port 4 Port 4
Port 5 Port 5
Port 6 Port 6

Private Cable
Leased PTT Line
(e.g. AF Cable)
 Distance Protection
Typical stepped distance/time characteristics

Operating Time

ZONE 3

TA3
ZONE 2

A TA2
B TB2 C
ZONE 1
RA RB RC
TA1 TB
1

Distance

A, B, C Stations
RA,RB, RC Protection Relay
TA1, TA2, TA3 Operating Times, Relay A
TB1, TB2, TB3 Operating Times, Relay B
 Distance Line Protection
Permissive Transferred Tripping (PTT)

B LBC C
F

BC1
RBC
RCB
CB1

L
TPS TPS

B, C Substations F Line fault

LBC Protected line section
RBC,RCB Protection relay L Communication channel
BC1, CB1 Zone 1 reach, 85% of line section (PLC, Microwave, Cable)
 Distance Line Protection
Direct Transfer Tripping (DTT)
B LBC C
F

BC1
RBC
CB1
RCB

TPS TPS

B, C Substations F Line fault

LBC Protected line section
RBC,RCB Protection relay L Communication channel
BC1, CB1 Zone 1 reach, 85% of line section (PLC, Microwave, Cable)
 Performance Criteria for Teleprotection

Transmission Security
Time (Probability of
unwanted
command)

Dependability Bandwidth or
(Probability
Data Rate
of missing
command)

Optimization / Exchange according to application

 Total Fault-Clearance-Time

• Time delay between fault occurrence and line

tripping
• The fault-clearance time results from:
◦ Relay-time (fault detection) TREL
◦ Command transmission time TAC
◦ Switching delay of line breaker TBR
• Typical values:
TTotal = TREL + TAC + TBR
75 ms = 20 ms + 15 ms + 40 ms
• Target: TTotal = less than 100 ms, Worst Case
= 4.5 to 5 cycles max. (50 Hz)
Send & Receive
 Teleprotection Scheme

Protection Protection
Commands PLC Power Line PLC Commands
TPS TPS

Applications:

 UP to 230 kV Power line

Commands:

 C1: DTT1

 C2: DTT2

 C3:Dist.1 & Dist.2

 C4:DEF1 & DEF2

 Teleprotection Scheme

Protection Protection
Commands PLC Power Line PLC Commands
TPS TPS

Port 1 Port 1
Port 2
Port 3
Optical Fibre Port 2
Port 3
Port 4 Port 4
Port 5 Port 5
Port 6 Port 6

Applications:

 230 & 400 kV Power line

Commands (Main): Commands (Backup):

 C1: DTT1 C1: -

 C2: - C2: DTT2

 C3:Dist.1 C3: Dist.2

 C4:DEF1 C4: DEF2

Thank You