Electromagnetic

Disturbances and

Blocking Problems in

PLC Technologies

PRESENTED BY

Ibon Arechalde

TECNALIA

IN

European Utility Week 2014

AMSTERDAM

ARE

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

MAGIC?

MAXWELL EQUATIONS

MASS MEDIA

DIFFERENT VISIONS

MAXWELL EQUATIONS

Measurable

Repeatable

Specific

Attainable

Time dependent

MASS MEDIA

DIFFERENT VISIONS

WE USE EMC IN

PLC COMMUNICATIONS

USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS

SIGNAL COUPLING:

- Signal can be injected only in 1 phase

- Lower attenuation

- Signal can be transmitted in any direction

- De-phasing among the signal in 3 phases

- Noises in 1 phase also coupled in others

- Noise can be transmitted in any direction

EXAMPLE:

- 2 m of 2 cables (2 phases) are enough to

induct the OFDM signals

USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS

SIGNAL PROPAGATION:

Electrical networks are not designed like

telecommunication networks, so:

- Elements in network are not designed for these

frequency bands

- Disturbing elements

- High influence of changes in impedance

- Difficulties through some elements: transformers

EXAMPLE:

- An instantaneous change of impedance can

change the S/N ratio more than the

attenuation of 2 km of cable

USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS

OTHER NON-TECHNICAL QUESTIONS:

- Installers should be trained for new

technologies and EMC

- Users should be trained to live with these new

technologies

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Topology Changes

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USE of EMC in PLC COMMUNICATIONS

HOW TO MEASURE THE QUALITY:

- Signal to Noise ratio

- Bit Error Rate

- Error Vector Magnitude

- Successful Information Rate

EXAMPLE:

- SIR to evaluate performance in Smart Meters

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NOIS - 0 NOIS - 0 NOIS -6,02

NOIS -9,54

NOIS -12,04

NOIS -13,98

NOIS -15,56

NOIS -16,9

NOIS -18,06

NOIS -19,08

NOIS - 20 NOIS -20,83

NOIS -21,58

NOIS -22,28

NOIS -22,92

NOIS -23,52

NOIS -24,08

NOIS -24,61

NOIS -25,10

NOIS -25,57

NOIS -26,02

NOIS -26,44

Information Availability / Noise

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Golden minute

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Recovery

WORKING TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEMS

STANDARDS:

- CENELEC SC205A: Analysis of noises in field

- SGCG Set of Standards: gaps in PLC bands

EXAMPLES:

WORKING TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEMS

DURING YEARS WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH:

- Devices that are compliant with standards but

very noisy in the band 2-150 kHz

- Old devices that are not compliant with

standards due to aging

- Noises as the sum of compliant devices

WORKING TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEMS

PROJECTS IN TECNALIA:

- Measurements in laboratory

- Measurements in field

EXAMPLE:

- Performance tests evaluating noise from

network or home

- Measurements in field to catch noises and

reproduce in laboratory

- BIDELEK SAREAK project

- Tools for installers to make the roll-out easier

PROBLEMS WITH NOISES CAN BE AVOIDED

NOISES CAN BE AVOIDED:

- Filtering

- Improving the devices

- Extending the frequency bands to non-noisy

frequencies

EXAMPLE:

- Analyzing the performance of each

device and manufacturer.

- Evaluation of how the

communication improves with filters

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PROBLEMS WITH NOISES CAN BE AVOIDED

WE ARE ALREADY WORKING IN THAT:

CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS

• Coupling & Propagation mean pros and cons in

PLC communications

• Quality in aggressive environment shall be

measured with methods selected according to

Successful Information Rates

• Working in EMC environment we will improve

the PLC technologies

• New standards shall reduce the problems in

PLC communications

“We compromise to provide you

best in class services based on

technical knowledge in Smart

Metering solutions and

communication channels”

Pedro Urteaga,

Market and International Director

TECNALIA Research & Innovation

CONCLUSIONS

• Problems with noises and impedances exist

• We can assess how aggressive environments

affect the implementation of the technology

• We know how to mitigate the negative effects of

noise and impedance

In TECNALIA we don’t know how to hunt

ghosts with EMC but we know how to

avoid the problems in PLC technologies

Ibon.arechalde@tecnalia.com

EUW14, Booth 1D20