Power Line

Communication
By Surbhi Kumari
(9262)

Contents

Introduction
Classification of PLC
How does it work?
Applications of Power Line Communication

Home and office networking

Home automation
Street lighting system
Data center

PLC in Energy Generation Micro-inverter

Complications
Conclusion
References
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Introduction
Power Line Communication (PLC) is a communication
technology which enables sending data over existing
power cables which carry and supply electric power.
Replacing the slow data transmission with one way
communication, the emerging PLC technology has brought
wider bandwidth with two way communication.
Received tremendous attention as an alternative and costeffective last-mile-access technology
Ubiquitous nature and readily available infrastructure
Unlike
other
popular
communication
technologies
bandwidth is fully symmetrical (up-link and down-link
bandwidth)
New modulation techniques and technology have enabled
this medium to become a realistic and practical means
of
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PLC Modem
Block Diagram

Classification
PLC can be broadly categorized as following:1. Narrowband PLC
2. Broadband PLC
Narrowband PLC works at lower frequencies (3-500 kHz), lower data rates (up to
100s of kbps) and has longer range (up to several kms) which can be extended
using repeaters.
Broadband PLC works at higher frequencies (1.8-250 MHz), high data rates (up to
100s of Mbps) and is used in shorter range applications.
Recently, narrowband Power Line Communication has been receiving widespread
attention due to its applications in the Smart Grid. Another application that
narrowband PLC has been used in is smart energy generation, particularly in
micro-inverters for solar panels. Broadband PLC, in contrast, is mainly found
acceptance as a last-mile solution for internet distribution and home networking.
With its high data rates and no additional wiring, broadband PLC is 5seen as an

Classification(contd.)
PLC can also be classified as : PLC over AC lines
PLC over DC lines

How does it work?

In PLC technology a sender modulates the data to be sent,
injects it on to medium, and the receiver de-modulates this
data to read it. The major difference is that PLC does not
need extra cabling - it re-uses existing wiring. Considering
the pervasiveness of power lines, with PLC, virtually all linepowered devices can be controlled or monitored!
Based on Data Rate different Modulation Schemes, Standard
and Frequency PLC is communication is being used in the
world for different application.

Table shows different PLC schemes

Applications of Power Line

Communication
Networking: Broadband Internet, Home and Office
networking.
Lighting: Traffic light control, LED dimming.
Industrial: UPS communicating to a network device,
irrigation control.
Machine-to-machine: Vending machines, a hotels
reception-to-room communication.
Telemetry: Offshore oil rigs.
Transport: Electronics in cars, trains and airplanes.
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Applications of Power Line Communication(Cont.)

Energy Generation: Micro-inverter.
Smart grid: AMI, Smart Appliances and V2G.

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Network using Power lines in Home and

Office

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PLC in Home Area Network

Sensors on
appliances side
connected to
monitor via
power line.
Changes
reflected on the
LCD Display.
Control of entire
house at
fingertips.
Wireless network
faces issues RF
interference
caused by

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PLC enabled
Street lighting
system
Allow monitoring and
control
LEDs are optimally
dimmed /turned off
Reduces maintenance cost
Information of mortality
cycle, energy consumption
sent to remote monitoring
site
Better aesthetic and safety
No additional wiring, no
road digging or tower

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PLC-enabled Power Distribution Topology in Data

center

UPS, PDU, PSU and network devices communicate with each other.
Clear map of power topology downstream and upstream.
Power requirements known precisely, load of the UPS can be safely increased to optimum
level.
UPS overloading, battery failure and circuit breaker failure reduced, or diagnosed prior to
downtime.

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UPS Efficiency versus Load

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PLC in Energy Generation

SOL AR MICRO -INVERTER

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Distributed Generation
Renewable energy growing at brisk rate
Growth of 35.2% in 2010
Doubling of Photovoltaic(PV) installation
Wind turbine installation
DC output must be converted by inverter into clean, reliable
AC power.
Typical DG system consists:
Energy production device
Inverter
Cabling and Communication

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Solar Power Generation

PV installations used central inverters or string inverters
The performance of the system could be monitored with a
Ethernet connections to the inverters
Growing trend towards Micro-inverter.
These function at individual solar panel level
Monitoring capability for each of these modules.
Provides vital performance statistics over the lifetime of the
solar panel.
Used to detect and pinpoint performance issues.
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Roof-top solar panel installation with microinverters

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Micro-inverter
To implement monitoring capability, one could use wireless Zigbee,
Wi-Fi, RF, and Bluetooth; or wired PLC, RS-485, RS-232, Ethernet
amongst others.
The implementation of a wireless solution can be challenging because
of
Its line of sight requirement micro-inverters are generally
located behind a solar panel
More complicated installation
EMI problems
Alternatively, other wired technologies involve extra cabling and thus
greater installation and maintenance costs. PLC can be both simpler
and more economical.
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Importantly, with PLC, installation and maintenance is simple and

Block Diagram of a Micro-inverter

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Solar Micro-inverter (cont.)

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Powerline Communications Analog Front-End

Device
Low-cost, integrated powerline
communications analog front-end (AFE) device
Capable of a transformer-coupled connection
to the powerline
Under the control of a DSP or microcontroller.
Ideal for driving high-current, low-impedance
lines that drive up to 1.5A into reactive loads.
The integrated receiver is able to detect
signals down to 15mVRMS, capable of a wide
range of gain options to adapt to varying input
signal conditions.
Monolithic integrated circuit provides high
reliability in demanding powerline
communications applications
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Features Description
Integrated Powerline Driver with
Thermal and Overcurrent Warnings
Large Output Swing: 13VPP at 1.5A
(15V supply)
Low Power Consumption 15mW
(Receive Mode)
Shutdown Override
Receive Sensitivity 15mV RMS, Typ
Supply Voltage: 7V to 24V
Supports EN50065 Cenelec Bands
A, B, C, D
Supports FSK and OFDM
Programmable Gain Control
Four-Wire Serial Interface
Two Integrated Zero Crossing

Pin assignment
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Applications

eMetering

Lighting

Solar

Functional Block Diagram of PLC used in

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Challenges
Power lines were not designed to carry data, and actually behave as low
pass filters.
Modelling the PL channel is difficult
It is a very harsh and noisy transmission medium, frequency-selective,
time-varying, and is impaired by colored background noise and impulsive
noise. Thus maintaining signal integrity over power lines requires robust
signalling techniques and hardware.
The structure of the grid differs across and within countries and the same
applies for indoor wiring practices. There is no universal standard either
for PLC or the grid; steps to ensure interoperability of devices need to be
taken.
Thirdly, questions are being raised today about the digital security of
personal information that is sent over the power lines because these can
be tapped into. Thus establishing privacy safeguards and equally
important -convincing the public of these is another large-level issue that
is being addressed. Lastly, PLC faces competition from other means26of

Conclusion
Power Line Communication, can be evolved as a technology
and as a market. The various types of PLC, modulation
schemes, standards, frequencies in use today were discussed.
Applications of PLC in energy generation, data-center power
distribution networks, and, in LED lighting were seen. Finally,
the challenges of PLC were briefly highlighted.
PLC has adds intelligence into previously dumb power
networks. With the increased emphasis on developing PLC
technology and standards, we can be confident that in the
future, Power Line Communication will continue adding
smartness to our lines.
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References
W h a t i s p o w e r l i n e c o m m u n i c a t i o n ? B y c y p r e s s s e m i c o n d u c t o r,
8/17/2011
h t t p : / / w w w. e e t i m e s . c o m / d e s i g n / i n d u s t r i a l - c o n t ro l / 4 2 1 8 8 5 2 / w h a t - i s - p o
w e r- l i n e - c o m m u n i c a t i o n Ed Mullins, Anass Marbet: Analog Front-End Design for a Narrowband Power-Line
Communications Modem Using the AFE031
h t t p : / / w w w. t i . c o m . c n / c n / l i t / a n / s b o a 1 3 0 a / s b o a 1 3 0 a . p d f
Ka r t h i k S h i v a r a m 1 , N i k h i l Ra j e n d r a 2 , Ka v i M a h e s h 3 , B a l a s u b r a m a n y a
M u r t h y K . N . 3 , Pa d m a v a t h y J a w a h a r 3 : Po w e r l i n e c o m m u n i c a t i o n
b a s e d a u t o m a t i o n s y s t e m u s i n g a h a n d h e l d Wi - Fi d e v i c e 2 0 1 2 I E E E
1 6 t h I n t e rn a t i o n a l S y m p o s i u m
D i a m o n d H P 2 0 0 AV p o w e r l i n e AV E t h e rn e t a d a p t e r k i t , S e p t e m b e r 6 ,
2011
h t t p : / / w w w. g e e ka l e r t s . c o m / d i a m o n d - h p 2 0 0 a v- p o w e r l i n e - a v- e t h e r n e t - a d
a p t e r- k i t /
How to set up your powerline networking adapters
h t t p : / / w w w. s q u i d o o. c o m / n e t w o r k - a d a p t e r s
S o l a r m i c ro i n v e r t e r s o l u t i o n s f ro m Te x a s i n s t r u m e n t s
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h t t p : / / w w w. t i . c o m / s o l u t i o n / s o l a r- m i c ro - i n v e r t e r- d i a g r a m

Queries

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