Communication Networks

DLTC - Power Line Carrier Line Traps

ABB Line Traps Type DLTC
A reliable component for PLC communication

Transmitting information along high-voltage lines (PLC)

has been one of the main and certainly the most economic
means of communication in electric power systems for more
than 50 years.

The purpose of PLC line traps:

− Provision of defined high voltage line impedances regardless − Wide choice of pedestals suitable for mounting on insulator
of the configuration of the primary system switchgear. posts, coupling capacitors and instrument transformers.

− Prevention of signal losses due to propagation into other lines. − Provision for nearly every type of conductor terminal.

− Attenuation of RF signals from other parts of the power system,
thus permitting multiple use of the same frequency bands.
− PLC line traps are connected in series with the high-tension
lines and must therefore be rated for the maximum continuous
load current and be able to withstand the maximum fault current
at the place of installation. DLTC line traps fulfill all the RF
requirements as well as all the power system requirements of
the latest IEC recommendations.
− Solid construction permits high mechanical loads on terminals.
− High voltage withstand of tuning devices ensures high reliability.
Tuning devices are tuned for either broadband blocking or
damped single frequency blocking.
− Transient overvoltage protection by metal oxide arresters with
better characteristics than arc-gap arresters. Only arresters
with a rating of 10 kA are used.

Principal advantages of PLC line traps type DLTC
− Low volume and small diameter due to multilayer techniques.
Hence less wind resistance and simpler maintenance of spacing
between conductors.
− Open construction and therefore better cooling. No danger
of local hot-spots or cracking of insulating material.
− Excellent RF characteristics with high Q and low stray and operation of PLC line traps.
capacitance. Higher resonant frequencies than those used
for PLC transmission.
− Integrates optimally in the overall PLC network, because ABB
not only supplies the line traps, but everything else for PLC
systems.
– Modern production techniques ensure consistent product
quality.
− Backed by 50 years of experience in the design, manufacture
– Quality management systems according to ISO 9001.

− All versions available for either pedestal mounting or suspended – Environmental management system according to ISO 14001.
installation.
– Occupational health and safety management system according
to ISO 18001.

Transport of Electrical Energy

Line Line
Substation Trap HV Line Trap Substation
Impedance Z L

Coupling Coupling
Capacitor or CVT Capacitor or CVT

Coupling Device Coupling Device

MCD80 MCD80
Z1 Z1
PLC Terminal PLC Terminal
Transmission of Data, Speech and Protection Signals

2 Communication Networks - DLTC Power Line Carrier Line Traps

ABB Line Traps
A wide range of standard production DLTC types

DLTC standard production range (other types available on request)

Continuous Coordination Steady state component Asymmetric peak Inductance

rated current Standard of short-time current of short-time current
IN (A) IkN (kA) I km (kA) L tN (mH)

400 IEC 1 10 25.5 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 16 41 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

630 IEC 1 16 41 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 20 51 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

800 IEC 1 20 51 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 25 64 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

1000 IEC 1 25 64 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 31.5 80.5 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

1250 IEC 1 31.5 80.5 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 40 102 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

1600 IEC 1 40 102 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 50 128 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

2000 IEC 1 40 102 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 50 128 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

2500 IEC 1 40 102 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 50 128 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

3150 IEC 1 40 102 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 50 128 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

4000 IEC 1 63 161 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

IEC 2 80 204 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0

Communication Networks - DLTC Power Line Carrier Line Traps 3

ABB Line Traps design
Based on more than 50 years of experience

Construction of a PLC line trap

PLC line traps comprise 3 components: the main coil, a surge
arrester and a tuning device.

Main coil
− The construction of the DLTC line traps is based on the former
series TLJO and DLTA. Well-proven techniques and materials
have been retained and modified to satisfy today’s performance
requirements. DLTC line traps conform to the latest IEC
recommendations.
− The coil conductor is made of square section aluminium and
the turns are spaced by fiberglass spacer rods.
− There is no insulation around the conductor and therefore no
problems can arise due to local hot-spots or cracks in the
insulation. This “open”-type construction provides for excellent
cooling by the surrounding air.
− The spider supports in the ends of the coils are held together
by the fiberglass spacer rods.
− To achieve a reliable corrosion-proof connection, the HV terminals
are welded directly to the ends of the winding. Generally, vertical
flat terminals with 4 or 9 holes are fitted, but round or horizontal
flat terminals can be welded to the spiders on request. To avoid
additional thermal and mechanical stress in the event of a power
system fault, no current is conducted by the spiders.
− Because of their low weight, DLTC coils can be mounted
on coupling capacitors or capacitive voltage transformers
(CVT).

− This method of construction achieves a good RF characteristic
with a high Q, low stray capacitance and a high resonant
frequency of the coil itself.
− The entire main coil is impregnated with a two-component
epoxy resin of known good outdoor performance. Depending
on the rated current and rated inductance, the main coil is
wound with either one or several layers.
− The same fiberglass spacer used for the turns separates the
layers of multiple-layer line traps apart. The multiple-layer
winding technique enables extremely compact and robust line
traps with small diameter and low height to be manufactured.
− They can also be mounted on insulator posts or simply
suspended.
− All coils are equipped with lifting eyes on both sides. In addition
to a pedestal, a bird barrier and the corona shield needed
at the higher power system voltages can also be attached
to the spiders.
− The tuning device and the surge arrester are mounted inside
the main coil.

4 Communication Networks - DLTC Power Line Carrier Line Traps

ABB Surge Arresters
Providing better protection

ABB surge arresters
− ABB line traps are equipped with a modern surge arrester
which does not have a spark gap.
− Two alternative surge arresters are available for protecting
PLC line traps type DLTC.
− The small- and medium-size line traps are protected by standard
ABB station arresters type Polim.
− Large line traps are equipped with specially designed surge
arresters for extremly high electromagnetic fields. They employ
the same non-linear metal oxide varistors (MO arrester) that
are used in the ABB station arresters.
The main advantages of the MO surge arresters are
− High surge suppression capacity
− Fast response to the high-rise transient surges which typically
occur when isolators across line traps are operated
− Low, stable level of protection
The inherent leakage capacitance of the MO surge arrester is
taken into account when designing the tuning device. ABB MO surge
arresters are especially designed for operation in the strong
electromagnetic fields which prevail inside PLC line traps. In
particular they do not contain any unnecessary metal parts in
which the magnetic field would induce eddy currents and cause
an inadmissible temperature rise. The modification of the MO
surge arresters to suit the operating conditions of PLC line traps
was only possible because ABB also manufactures this plant
equipment and is fully familiar with the problems which arise in
practice. The surge arresters used with DLTC line traps have a
rated current of 10 kA.
Tuning device
The tuning device is connected in parallel with the main coil and the
surge arrester. It provides a defined impedance or blocking resistance
in the frequency band prescribed for the PLC channel. The tuned
circuit is usually of the dual-circuit broadband type. This solution
has proved to produce the best results in the majority of cases.
Many years of successful operation have confirmed that the
bandwidth obtained for a given main coil impedance and transient
over-voltage withstand is an optimum. Special attention has
always been paid to the proper insulation coordination between
the main coil, tuning device and surge arrester.

Construction of a PLC Line Trap Typical resistance characteristic of a metal oxide surge arrester

1.0
3 8
8/20 μs U3
4
6
AC (50/60 Hz)
2
U2
U/U3

7 7 0.5
1

5
8 U1
0
9
10-4 10-2 100 102 104 10 6
I [A]

1 Main coil
2 Tuning device
3 Protective devices
4 Corona caps (depending
on system voltage)
5 Corona rings (depending on
system voltage)
6 Bird barriers (option) U1 = Voltage across the line
7 Terminal trap at the continuous
8 Lifting eye current
9 Pedestal (option)
U2 = Voltage across the line
trap at the rated short-
time current
U3 = Protection level of the
surge arrester at a test
current of 10 kA, 8/20 μs
I [A] = Current through surge
arrester

Communication Networks - DLTC Power Line Carrier Line Traps 5

ABB Tuning Devices
Guaranteeing the correct blocking bandwidth

Frequency response of a broadband tuned line trap Frequency response of a single frequency tuned line trap

Blocking impedance, resistance [Ω]

Blocking impedance, resistance [Ω]

1000 1200

800 1000
Rated
Value 800
Rated
600
Δf1R Value
600
400 Δf1R
Δf1 |Zb|
400 |Zb| Δf1
200 Rb 200
Rb
0 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0 50 100 150 200 250
Frequency [kHz] Frequency [kHz]

8.00 8.00
AtR
AtR
Δf2
6.00 6.00
Tapping loss [dB]

Tapping loss [dB]

Δf2R
Δf2
4.00 4.00
Δf2R
Rated Value Rated Value

2.00 2.00
At At

0.00 0.00
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0 50 100 150 200 250
Frequency [kHz] Frequency [kHz]

Equivalent circuit Equivalent circuit

A A
L1 L
C1
L2 C2 R2 C R
TD
TD

A = Protective device A t = Tapping loss based on A = Protective device A t = Tapping loss based on
L1 = Main coil of line trap blocking impedance L = Main coil of line trap blocking impedance
TD = Tuning device A tR = Tapping loss based on TD = Tuning device A tR = Tapping loss based on
C1, C2, = Tuning device elements blocking resistance C, R = Tuning device elements blocking resistance
L2, R2 |Z b| = Blocking impedance Rated value of A tR
|Zb| = Blocking impedance Rated value of A tR R b = Blocking resistance 2.6 dB according to IEC 60353
R b = Blocking resistance 2.6 dB according to IEC 60353

6 Communication Networks - DLTC Power Line Carrier Line Traps

ABB Line Traps
Conforming to the latest international recommendations

− Standard values for the blocking resistance of line traps in Band limits of broadband line traps type DLTC
overhead lines are 400 Ω for bundle conductors and 600 Ω
for single conductors. The curves on the right show the
500
blocking bands which can be achieved with broadband line
2.0 mH 1.0 mH 0.5 mH 0.315 mH 0.2 mH
traps for different values of inductance. Detailed frequency

Upper band limit [kHz]

tables are available for both methods of line trap tuning and 400
other values of blocking resistance.
300
− Alternatively, the line trap can be tuned as a damped single
frequency filter. The main characteristic of this type of tuning 200
is its excellent withstand to transient overvoltages.

100
- Field tunable tuning devices are available for line traps with Applies for blocking
resistance Rb > 400 Ω
0.2 mH and 0.5 mH.
0
− Extensive tests in outdoor switchyards and GIS installations 0 50 100 150 200
have demonstrated that a large number of transients with Lower band limit [kHz]
extremely short rise times are generated when an isolator
across a PLC line trap is operated.
500
2.0 mH 1.0 mH 0.5 mH 0.315 mH 0.2 mH
− These tests supported by computer simulations verified that
Upper band limit [kHz]

DLTC line traps with a damped single frequency blocking 400

characteristic withstand such stresses better than broadband
line traps. Damped single frequency line traps are therefore 300
recommended for power system voltages from 500 kV upwards
and in systems with frequent switching operations. The blocking
200
bandwidth of a damped single frequency line trap for a given
main coil inductance is narrower than that of a broadband
line trap. 100
Applies for blocking
resistance Rb > 600 Ω

Mounting PLC line traps 0

Suspended 0 50 100 150 200 250
The line traps have a lug on the upper spider for this kind of Lower band limit [kHz]
installation. A lug on the bottom enables the line traps to be
anchored. Multiple suspension points can also be provided.
The blocking bandwidth of line traps with 0.2 mH and 0.315 mH
Standing can be tuned in a frequency range of up to 1000 kHz.
Small and medium-size line traps can be equipped with a pedestal
of non-magnetic material for mounting on coupling capacitors, For line traps with 0.5 mH, 1.0 mH and 2.0 mH, when intended for
capacitive voltage transformers or insulator posts. Pedestals for use above 500 kHz, it has to be clarified with the manufacturer first,
mounting on 3 or 4 insulator posts are available for large line traps whether the selected type is suitable for the required application.
or medium-size line traps exposed to high mechanical stresses
(high winds or earthquakes).

Connections
The standard versions of the DLTC line traps are supplied with
vertical aluminium flat terminals. The arrangement of the terminals
permits the conductors to be routed either vertically or horizontally
when using standard clamps. Other types of terminal (e. g. round,
horizontal or double) or alternative methods of connection are
available on request.

Communication Networks - DLTC Power Line Carrier Line Traps 7

Contact

© ABB Switzerland Ltd, November 2016. The right to modifications or deviations due to technical progress is reserved.
ABB Switzerland Ltd
Power Grids
Grid Automation
Bruggerstrasse 72
CH-5400 Baden, Switzerland
Phone: +41 84 484 58 45
(Customer Support Center)
E-Mail: communication.networks@ch.abb.com

www.abb.com/communicationnetworks

1KHA - 000 558 - SEN - 11.16 - Printed in Switzerland