Narrowband Powerline Communication: Applications and ... · PDF fileNarrowband Powerline...

Renesas Electronics America Inc.

© 2012 Renesas Electronics America Inc. All rights reserved.

Class ID: 2C05B

Narrowband Powerline Communication: Applications and Challenges

Bogdan Baraboi, Application Engineer

Ariane Controls

© 2012 Renesas Electronics America Inc. All rights reserved. 2

Bogdan Baraboi

Master in Electrical Engineering from Université Laval (Quebec, Canada)

Background in electronics, analog signal processing, power systems

9 years of experience in powerline communications

With Ariane Controls since 2004


Renesas Technology & Solution Portfolio


Agenda

Powerline Communication 101

Modulation techniques

Channel characteristics

Applicable regulations

Transceiver requirements

No New Wires: Where and How

Existing and potential applications

Implementation challenges and solutions

Market Trends

– Smart grid

– Standards and technologies


Powerline Communication 101

Why Powerline Communication?

How it works?

What are the typical challenges?

Are there any applicable regulations?


The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

No New Wires

Send data on existing lines that transport electrical power

– High / Medium / Low Voltage AC/DC power lines

Operate by superposing a modulated carrier signal on line voltage

– Narrowband modulation systems

– Broadband modulation systems

Challenging conditions

Unpredictable and widely varying channel characteristics

Electromagnetic compatibility restrictions

Emerging technologies and applications

Slow development of acceptable standards and regulations


Once Upon a Time

1838 First remote electricity supply metering

1897 First patent on power line signaling

1920s First carrier frequency systems began to operate

over high-voltage lines

1930s Ripple carrier signalling was introduced on the

medium and low voltage distribution systems

1940s Emerge the expression Power Line Carriers (PLC)

1974 Early directive for transmitted power and

frequencies

1980s Home-control PLC devices become available

1990s (X10, CEBus, LonWorks)

1997 First International Symposium on PLC (ISPLC)

2001 HomePlug 1.0 specification released


Broad and Narrow

Narrowband PLC Broadband PLC

Data rate Up to 200kbps Over 1Mbps

Frequency Up to 500kHz Over 2MHz

Modulation FSK, S-FSK, BPSK, SS, OFDM

OFDM

Applications Building Automation Renewable Energy Advanced Metering

Street Lighting Electric Vehicle

Smart Grid

Internet HDTV Audio

Gaming

Providers Renesas Maxim

ST Microelectronics Texas Instruments

Echelon Yitran

Cypress Ariane Controls

Atheros Maxim Sigma

Broadcom Lantiq Marvell


Single-carrier PLC Technologies

FSK, S-FSK, BPSK, ASK

An analog carrier signal is modulated by a discrete signal

Digital data is represented by a finite number of distinct signals

Proven performance

(ex: X10, Echelon, ST, Ariane)

Low complexity, low power, low cost

Limited data rate (typically up to 10kbps)

Sensible to narrowband noise (FSK) or phase distortion (PSK)

Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)


Spread-Spectrum PLC Technologies

DSSS, DCSK

The original narrowband information is spread over a relatively wide band of frequencies

The band spread is achieved by means of a higher data rate bit sequence

Robust against narrowband noise

Low spectral efficiency

Limited data rate

Few implementations

(ex: Yitran)


Multi-carrier PLC Technologies

OFDM

A large number of closely spaced orthogonal sub-carrier signals are used to carry data

Each sub-carrier is modulated with a conventional modulation scheme (such as BPSK, QPSK or QAM)

Emerging implementations

(ex: PRIME, G3-PLC )

Robust against narrowband noise and multi-path propagation

Higher data rates

Able to adapt to channel conditions

Increased complexity, cost, power consumption

Large frequency bandwidth


Architecture of PLC Transceivers

Signal Processing

DAC / ADC

Filtering

Amplification

Coupling Circuit

Capacitive / Inductive

Protection

Isolation

MCU

Protocol

Networking

Application

Power Supply

Linear / Switched-mode / Capacitive

Power Line

AC / DC

Modem

PHY

MAC

Rx

Tx


The Grid

Solar

Farms

Substations

Wind

Farms

Substations

Large

Industry

Small

Industry

Commercial

BuildingsMDU Homes

High Voltage Lines

Medium Voltage Lines

Low Voltage Lines

Transmission Grid

Distribution

Grid


The Challenges

Harsh medium for data communication

Unpredictable and varying characteristics

Time

Frequency

Location

Limited and inaccurate theoretical models of power line

environment

Main technical challenges:

Signal attenuation

Signal distortion

Noise


Signal Attenuation and Distortion

Main causes:

Impedance of connected loads

– Inductive, capacitive or resistive

– Can be as low as 1 Ohm

Multiple phases

Power transformers

Wire impedance

Reflection effects

Highly varying with frequency and time

Attenuation ranges between 10dB and 60dB


Noise

Generated by loads connected to the power line

Time, location and frequency dependent

Main types:

Continuous noise

– Time-invariant continuous noise (background noise)

• Ex: Thermal noise caused by internal circuitry

– Time-variant continuous noise

• Ex: inverter-driven fluorescent lamps

Impulsive noise

– Synchronous to AC mains

• Ex: Thyristor-based light dimmers

– Asynchronous to AC mains

• Ex: Switching regulators

– Single-event impulses

• Ex: Switches, thermostats, capacitor banks

Narrowband noise

• Ex: Interference from radio stations


EMC Standards and Regulations

Frequency band allocation

Maximum output power levels

Electromagnetic emissions limits

Conducted emissions

Radiated emissions

US FCC Part 15 for Carrier Current Devices

Canada ICES-006

Japan ARIB STD-T84

Europe EN 50065-1

Band A

Utilities

B, C, D

Consumer

535kHz

535kHz

450kHz10kHz

0kHz

0kHz

3kHz 95kHz 148.5kHz


PLC Transceiver Requirements

High transmission power capability

Excellent receiving sensitivity

High noise immunity

Error detection and correction features

Medium access mechanism

Adjustable communication frequency

Compliance with EMC regulations

CENELEC EN50065, FCC Part 15, ICES-006, ARIB

Data rate adapted to application requirements

Low power consumption

Low cost


No New Wires: Where and How

Applications and benefits

PLC implementations

Specific challenges

Typical solutions

Market trends

Smart grid

Standards and technologies


Power Lines are Everywhere

Homes & Buildings Lighting Control Energy Monitoring

Dedicated Wires Electric Vehicles Fireworks Systems

Distributed Energy PV Solar Panels Wind Turbines

Connected Cities Street Lighting Traffic Lights

Smart Grid Remote Metering Demand-Response


Home and Building Automation

Automated environments in homes, hotels, offices, commercial buildings

Energy savings

Greater comfort

Safety

PLC applications:

Lighting control

Load shedding

Energy monitoring

PLC challenges:

High density of loads

Three-phase or split-phase

Solutions:

Line filters

Phase couplers

Repeaters

Remote

access

Appliance

Control

Devices

Wall

Keypad

Controllers

Smart

Thermostats

Light

Control

Devices

Phase

Coupling

Unit

Remote

access


Distributed Renewable Energy Generation

Small-scale power generation provides an alternative and an enhancement of the traditional electric power system

Reduced distribution losses

Increased security

Low pollution

PLC applications:

Solar panel PV systems

Wind turbine systems

PLC challenges:

DC line: High attenuation

from central inverter

AC line: Three-phase or

split-phase power

Solutions:

Phase couplers

Line filters

Inductive coupling


Connected Cities

Cities are more and more concerned to manage public lighting

Energy savings

Reduced maintenance costs

Power measurement

PLC applications:

Street lighting

Tunnel lighting

Parking lot lighting

Traffic lights

PLC challenges:

Long distances

Low line impedance

Solutions:

Increased Tx power

Signal repeaters


Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Systems that collect, analyze and control energy usage through communication with electricity/gas/water smart meters

Increased network efficiency

Reduced maintenance costs

Improved customer service

PLC applications:

Remote metering

Demand Response

Fault/fraud detection

PLC challenges:

Long distances, transformers

High noise levels

Low line impedance

Split-phase and three-phase

Solutions:

Signal couplers and repeaters

Increased Tx power

Transformer bypass


Charging of Plug-In Electric Vehicles

Automotive solution for digital communication between charging stations and electric vehicles

Safe energy transfer

Customer information

Access to energy provider

PLC applications:

AC charging

DC charging

V2G / V2H demand

PLC challenges:

PWM Control Pilot signal

Noise

Cross-talk

Solutions:

Adapted coupling circuit

Reduced Tx power


Market Trends: Smart Grid

Modernization of generation, distribution and utilization of electrical energy based on bidirectional communication between consumers, devices and utilities

Improved network reliability, flexibility and efficiency

Mix of wired and wireless communication technologies

PLC, RS232/485, Ethernet, RF, ZigBee, GPRS, etc.


Market Trends: Standards and Technologies

The fundamental challenge in the Smart Grid is to ensure balance of generation and demand while integrating a large variety of technologies

Co-existence

Inter-operability

Smart-Energy Profile 2.0 (SEP 2.0) provides a common application layer enabling interoperability between technologies for both wireless and wired communication

Development of PLC standardization

Formal international standards: IEEE 1901.2, ITU-T G.hn

Industrial alliances specifications: PRIME, G3-PLC, HomePlug Green PHY


Summary

Powerline Communication = No New Wires

Narrowband vs. Broadband technologies

Challenging conditions

Power line environment: noise, attenuation, distortion

EMC regulations: frequency bands, output power, emissions

Power lines are everywhere Homes and Buildings: Lighting control, Energy monitoring

Distributed Renewable Energy Sources: Solar Panels, Wind Turbines

Connected Cities: Street/Tunnel/Parking Lot lighting systems

Utilities: Remote metering, Demand-Response, AMI

Dedicated Wires: Plug-in Electric Cars, RS485/RS232 replacement

Market trends Smart Grid: application of digital processing and communications to the

power grid

Coexistence of various communication solutions

– Wired and Wireless

– Narrowband and Broadband


Questions?


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