Advanced Applications Using
Powerline Communications over
High Voltage Transmission Lines
Nachum Sadan
August 21, 2012
Making TheConfidential
Grid Smarter
Overview
1
About Amperion
• Provider of advanced communications
solutions to electric utilities
• Pioneer of powerline communications
and innovator of Broadband Power Line
Carrier (B-PLC) technology
• Extensive Intellectual Property Portfolio
– Holder of foundational BPL patents
– Worldwide coverage
– Station Communications patent US 8,212,379
was granted in July 2012
• Enabler of substation communications
required for T&D smart grid applications
– B-PLC products are fully operational
– Commercial deployments at AEP (2011-2012)
Amperion, Inc.
360 Merrimack St.
Lawrence, MA 01843
www.amperion.com
Confidential Overview
2
Motivation for B-PLC Development
Pilot Wire Differential Protection
Station A
Station B
• Pilot wire used for transmission line protection is failing and
causing relay misoperations –> a reliability problem
• Copper-based wire is aging and deteriorating due to corrosion
• Phone companies are phasing out the service
• Yet pilot wire protection is a simple to deploy and accurate
scheme
• Fiber is an alternative but is costly and not always available
• B-PLC was developed as a cost effective pilot wire replacement
Confidential Overview
3
B-PLC Timeline & Milestones
• 2006 – 46kV 0.5 mile proof of concept demonstration in
Charleston WVA
– SCADA and POTT simulation tests
• 2007 to 2008 - 69kV 5 mile test in Newark Ohio
– 3 links with repeating; longest point to point link of 2.6 miles
• 2009 – 69kV 5 mile trial network in Newark Ohio
– 2 links with repeating; longest point to point link of 4.4 miles
• 2010 – Line current differential protection
– Fault simulation tests in lab and field with GE and SEL relays
– Single 138kV link over 3.8 miles
• 2011 – Transition from R&D to commercial deployments
– Focus on pilot wire replacements
• 2012 – First 69kV line protected with line current differential
over B-PLC – world’s first
Confidential Overview
4
Design Challenges
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•
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Physical attachment to a high voltage line
High speed digital transmission over HV
High availability and reliability
Operation during a phase to ground fault
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
Control of latency and jitter
Extended distance
Compliance with utility standards
Easy and safe to install
Plug and play operation
Scalability and flexibility
Minimum maintenance
Cost effective
Confidential Overview
5
Conventional Powerline Carrier Diagram
Control Building
Switchyard
Developed in 1960’s
Confidential Overview
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Broadband Powerline Carrier Diagram
Line Trap Not Required
Phoenix
Gateway
Phase
Combiner
Surge Arrester
Coupler Base
Control Building
Switchyard
Developed in 2010
Confidential Overview
7
B-PLC System Components
Phoenix Gateway
Differential Box
B-PLC Coupler
Fully Integrated & Field Tested Product Set
2006 – 2011 jointly with AEP
Amperion NMS
Confidential Overview
8
Typical B-PLC Deployment
Station A
Station B
High Voltage Transmission Line
Confidential Overview
9
Ethernet Over Powerline
The Amperion solution supports standard Ethernet IP interfaces
Standard IP
Interface
Standard IP
Interface
All data is encapsulated in Ethernet packets
Confidential Overview
10
B-PLC System Block Diagram
BPLC
Alarm
HV
Couplers
Power
Alarm
Relay A
HV
Couplers
LMR-400 Coax
Relay B
RS-422
Data Cables
LMR-600 Coax
Diff Box
Phoenix
LMR-600 Coax
LMR-400 Coax
Diff Box
Repeater Only
Other
Devices
(RTU/IED)
Ethernet
(Cat-5)
NMS
Ethernet
(Cat-5)
Telular
Confidential Overview
11
Broadband Powerline Coupling
C
L
Confidential Overview
12
Broadband Powerline Coupling
Safe
Scalable
Cost Effective
Efficient
Using standard utility lightning arresters
Ranging from MV to HV (138kV)
Adds lightning protection
Differential coupling provides noise
cancellation; effective impedance matching
optimizes performance
• Simple to install No training required
• Certified
Tested by Doble Engineering and AEP
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•
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69kV HV Station Class Coupler
69kV HV T-Line Class Coupler
Confidential Overview
13
Design Challenges
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Physical attachment to a high voltage line
High speed digital transmission over HV
High availability and reliability
Operation during a phase to ground fault
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
Control of latency and jitter
Extended distance
Compliance with utility standards
Easy and safe to install
Plug and play operation
Scalability and flexibility
Minimum maintenance
Cost effective
Confidential Overview
14
Line Noise Measurements
Confidential Overview
15
Line Noise Measurements
Confidential Overview
16
Line Noise Measurements
Confidential Overview
17
Noise Cancellation
Confidential Overview
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Differential (multi-phase) Coupling
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Noise cancellation increases SNR
Redundancy protection against single phase faults
Reduces emissions
2-Phase differential coupling in production
3-Phase coupling in development
Confidential Overview
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Differential Coupling Diagram
Confidential Overview
20
Differential Coupling With Repeating
Confidential Overview
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Design Challenges
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Physical attachment to a high voltage line
High speed digital transmission over HV
High availability and reliability
Operation during a phase to ground fault
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
Control of latency and jitter
Extended distance
Compliance with utility standards
Easy and safe to install
Plug and play operation
Scalability and flexibility
Minimum maintenance
Cost effective
Confidential Overview
22
Current Differential Communication Requirements
BPLC Phoenix
Repeater
BPLC Phoenix
Serial
64kbps
GE Multilin
L90 Differential Relay
BPLC Phoenix
Power Line
Power Line
Ch. 2
Ch. 4
Amperion
BPLC
Serial
64kbps
Max loop latency: 66 msec
GE Multilin
Max channel asymmetry: 1.5 msec L90 Differential Relay
Confidential Overview
23
B-PLC Measured Latency (1 Link)
Phoenix
Port 1 Distribution
7620 Data Points
1,000
100.00%
Distribution
900
90.00%
% Values <
800
80.00%
700
70.00%
600
60.00%
20 Points Spread
Between 5,000 and 10,000
500
50.00%
400
40.00%
300
30.00%
200
20.00%
100
10.00%
15,500
15,000
14,500
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500
10,000
9,500
9,000
8,500
8,000
7,500
7,000
6,500
6,000
5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
0.00%
500
0
0
Distribution
% Values >
Time (us)
Confidential Overview
24
B-PLC Measured Latency (2 Links)
Phoenix
Port 1 Distribution
7620 Data Points
1,000
100.00%
Distribution
900
90.00%
% Values <
800
80.00%
700
70.00%
600
60.00%
500
50.00%
30 Points Spread
Between 8,500 and 15,000
400
40.00%
300
30.00%
200
20.00%
100
10.00%
15,500
15,000
14,500
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500
10,000
9,500
9,000
8,500
8,000
7,500
7,000
6,500
6,000
5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
0.00%
500
0
0
Distribution
% Values >
Time (us)
Confidential Overview
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18,500
18,000
17,500
17,000
16,500
16,000
15,500
15,000
14,500
14,000
600
Average
400
200
300
150
200
100
100
0
Confidential Overview
Jitter Count
500
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500
10,000
9,500
9,000
8,500
8,000
7,500
7,000
6,500
6,000
5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Min, Ave, Max Count
B-PLC Measured Distribution (2 Links)
1 Second Interval
2,540 Samples
300
Minimum
250
Maximum
Jitter
Note: some data points out here!
50
0
Time (us)
26
Jitter Buffer Operation
Overflow Point
Bursty
Traffic
In
Max Point
Set Point
Min Point
TDM
Traffic
Out
Underflow Point
Confidential Overview
27
Jitter Buffer Operation
40
38
36
34
32
Rx Packet
TDM
Buffer Level
Jitter Setting
Full
Max Value
Min Value
30
28
26
Buffer (mS)
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
15ms
Jitter Hit
8
6
4
2
0
204 210 216 222 228 234 240 246 252 258 264 270 276 282 288 294 300 306 312 318 324 330 336 342 348 354 360 366 372 378 384 390 396 402
Time (mS)
Confidential Overview
28
Operating RF Spectrum
60Hz
PLC
B-PLC
• AM radio - 535 kilohertz to 1.7 megahertz
• Short-wave radio - 5.9 megahertz to 26.1 megahertz
• Citizens-band (CB) radio - 26.96 megahertz to 27.41 megahertz
• Television stations - 54 to 88 megahertz for channels 2 through 6
• FM radio - 88 megahertz to 108 megahertz
• Television stations - 174 to 220 megahertz for channels 7 through 13
Confidential Overview
29
B-PLC Frequency Channels
2.5Mhz
7.5Mhz
12.5Mhz
17.5Mhz
22.5Mhz
1
2
3
4
5 Mhz
5 Mhz
5 Mhz
5 Mhz
1
7.5 Mhz
27.5Mhz
5
5 Mhz
3
5
7.5 Mhz
7.5 Mhz
32.7Mhz
6
5 Mhz
2
4
6
7.5 Mhz
7.5 Mhz
7.5 Mhz
FCC Notches
• Defined by system
• Common to (5.0 & 7.5Mhz) Channels
• Attenuation Fixed by system
Custom Notches
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User Defined
5.0 & 7.5Mhz Channels Unique
Attenuation Configurable
Maximum of 7 Notches/Channel
Confidential Overview
30
B-PLC Modulation including Notching
Confidential Overview
31
5.1 Mile 69kV Test Network
W. Granville
Station
2.640
miles
Xmission
Pole 41
1.724
miles
Granville
Station
0.766
miles
Heath
Station
Confidential Overview
32
Views From Spectrum Analyzers
West Granville shows all 3 B-PLC links
Heath shows all 3 B-PLC links
B-PLC Links use 5Mhz bands
Channel 2: 8 to 13Mhz
Channel 4: 18 to 23Mhz
Channel 6: 29 to 34Mhz
Confidential Overview
33
AEP Lab Test Results
L-90 to L-90
L90 + TDM
Converter
Over BPLC
One hop
min
Over BPLC
One hop
max
Over BPLC
Two hops
min
Over BPLC
Two hops
max
20.68
24.91
31.25
38.39
40.08
46.19
421 to 421
421 + MB
Converter
Over BPLC
One hop
min
Over BPLC
One hop
max
Over BPLC
Two hops
min
Over BPLC
Two hops
max
27.98
32.79
40.80
44.88
48.06
53.28
• All results are fault trip times in milliseconds
• GE L90 using 64Kbps Current Differential scheme
• SEL421 using Mirrored Bits protocol and POTT scheme
• Test results provided basis to proceed with field testing
Confidential Overview
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Field Test Phase Fault Results
Confidential Overview
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FIELD DEPLOYMENTS
Confidential Overview
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69kV Commercial Deployments
The Raceland to Highland line is protected with
Line Current Differential Protection (LCDP)
Using B-PLC since June 2012
Dow Chemical to Highland is installed but
Protection has not been enabled yet
Raceland
Highland
Wurtland
Dow Chemical
Confidential Overview
37
69kV Commercial Deployments
Equipment has been installed in July
Protection expected to be enabled in September
Cornerstone
3.12 miles
Millbrook Park
Confidential Overview
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Station Panel with Phoenix and Relays
Confidential Overview
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69kV Station Installation
Confidential Overview
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69kV Station Coupler Installation
Confidential Overview
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69kV Coupler Repeater Installation
Confidential Overview
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Phoenix Installations
Confidential Overview
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Differential Combiner Installation
Confidential Overview
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138kV Station Installation
3.8 miles distance
East Broad Station
Taylor Station
Confidential Overview
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138kV Coupler Installation
Confidential Overview
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B-PLC Performance Graphs
Confidential Overview
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B-PLC Performance Graphs
Confidential Overview
48
B-PLC Enables Substation Upgrades
First Generation Substation
Next Generation Substation
Electro-Mechanical
Analog relays
Digital Solid State relays
Copper Pilot Wire
Fiber or Broadband PLC
Conventional PLC
Broadband PLC
Proprietary protocols
Standard IEC 61850
Sonet TDM fiber rings
Sonet TDM and Ethernet IP
Narrowband communications
Broadband communications
Wide area monitoring and
control with Synchrophasors
Aggregation point of feeders’
smart grid data and data from
adjacent stations
B-PLC is another WAN option and can be used
for station retrofits on lines at 138kV and below
Confidential Overview
49
Line Protection with B-PLC
RELAY A
B-PLC supports line protection & control
requirements:
Current Diff, POTT and DCB
RELAY B
• Low Latency
• High Availability
• Redundancy
B-PLC
B-PLC
B-PLC
Station B
Station A
High Voltage Transmission Line
Confidential Overview
50
Station to Station Communications
Utility
Data Center
Utility
Data Center
Dedicated leased lines to each
substation are a single point of failure
and a recurring operational expense
Take Out
Point
Take Out
Point
B-PLC eliminates the need for dedicated
leased lines to each station. It offers
redundant communications paths and a
low cost alternative to leased lines
Station D
Station A
B-PLC
B-PLC
B-PLC
Station B
Station C
Confidential Overview
51
B-PLC Enables Substation Automation
RELAY/RTU/IED
B-PLC enables multiple
applications:
RELAY/RTU/IED
• Line protection
• SCADA communications
• Substation Automation
• Security monitoring
All using the same
communications platform
Station B
Station A
High Voltage Transmission Line
Confidential Overview
52
Design Challenges
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Physical attachment to a high voltage line
High speed digital transmission over HV
High availability and reliability
Operation during a phase to ground fault
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
Control of latency and jitter
Extended distance
Compliance with utility standards
Easy and safe to install
Plug and play operation
Scalability and flexibility
Minimum maintenance
Cost effective
Confidential Overview
53
Why B-PLC Technology?
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Communications is built-in wherever the power line exists
Broadband data rates with low latency
No need to wait for fiber optics to become available
No line of sight and interference issues associated with wireless
Utility is in full control of its network – no dependency on others
Most secured form of communications
Reliable, fast and simple to install, scalable and cost effective
Cost ($)
Cost of fiber increases with distance
Cost of B-PLC remains constant
Distance (m)
Confidential Overview
54
B-PLC Communications Summary
• B-PLC can be used to connect substations over
transmission, sub-transmission and distribution lines
• Fiber is too costly for lower voltage substations and
not always immediately available
• Broadband PLC provides a reliable, cyber secure,
ready-to-deploy, and cost effective alternative
– No field failures over 240 unit-months at 69kV and 138kV
– Survived many severe lightning, wind and ice storms
– Commercially deployed by AEP
• B-PLC can be used for P&C, SCADA, AMI backhaul
and video surveillance
B-PLC Enables Station Applications at Lower Cost
Confidential Overview
55
QUESTIONS?
Confidential Overview
56
Thank You!
Broadband Power Line Carrier (B-PLC)
Enables Utility Core Applications Today
and Provides a Platform for Tomorrow’s
Transmission and Distribution Smart Grid
Making TheConfidential
Grid Smarter
Overview
57