Secondary substation power line communications for
medium voltage smart grids
Giovanni Artale, Antonio Cataliotti, Member IEEE,
Valentina Cosentino, Dario Di Cara, Pierluca Russotto
Department of Electrical, Electronic and
Telecommunication Engineering, Chemical Technologies,
Automation and Mathematic Models (DIEETCAM),
Università di Palermo,
Palermo, Italy
email: giovanni.artale@unipa.it, acataliotti@ieee.org,
cosentino@dieet.unipa.it, dicara@dieet.unipa.it,
pierlucarussotto@gmail.com
Abstract— In this paper a performance analysis is carried out, in
order to evaluate the possibility to employ power line
communication (PLC) between secondary substations of a
medium voltage (MV) distribution networks in a smart grid. The
study is focused on the analysis of PLC technologies and the
evaluation of the influence quantities on the communication
performance in the most common case of by-pass connection at
MV bus-bars of secondary substations. Different quantities have
been analyzed as modulation techniques, requested bandwidth
and bitrate, coupling device and system attenuation versus
frequency in order to find the best solution for a reliable
communication system. A complete model of a real case study,
the distribution network of Ustica Island, have been carried out.
Simulation results are presented and discussed.
Keywords: Power Line Communication (PLC), smart grids,
active networks, power system communication, distribution
networks
I. INTRODUCTION
The increasing presence of distributed generators (DGs) in
medium voltage distribution networks require a complete
rethinking of the electricity networks management and control.
In the smart grid perspective, the distribution networks should
move from “passive” systems, with unidirectional energy flows
and a limited amount of intelligent and automation functions,
to “active” systems, with a high presence of DGs and bi-
directional energy flows. In such systems new smart metering
technologies and capabilities are needed, providing for
monitoring, automation, protection and control actions [1]-[3].
This goal can be achieved only with the availability of a proper
two-ways “always on” communication infrastructure, which
must be able to meet the needs of management and control of
DGs and networks, in order to avoid critical situations (such as
grid stability and control problems or the operation in
unwanted islanding conditions) and to allow the remote control
of DGs and their participation to the grid regulation (by means
of proper control strategies for voltage and power factor
regulation and production shuttering). On the contrary, at this
time, utilities cannot remotely control the DGs, because of the
current gaps in standardization, the limits of the existing utility
978-1-4673-1541-8/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
Riccardo Fiorelli,
STMicroelectronics Srl (STM),
Agrate 2, Italy
e-mail: riccardo.fiorelli@st.com
Giovanni Tinè, Member IEEE,
National Research Council (CNR),
Institute of Intelligent System for Automation (ISSIA)
Palermo, Italy
e-mail: tine@pa.issia.cnr.it
interface devices (IDs) and the lack of proper systems for
information exchange between the utility and DGs. In Italy the
standard CEI 0-21 [4] has been published recently, which
concerns the reference technical rules for the connection of
active and passive users to the LV electrical Utilities. This
Standard fixes some thresholds for the disconnection of DGs in
terms of over/under voltage and frequency. Furthermore, it
introduces the possibility for the utility to remote command the
disconnection of the DGs or to modify the aforementioned
thresholds, in order to avoid the operation in islanding
conditions. Therefore an important issue for the development
of smart grids is the capability of transferring data concerning
the status of the MV grid between substations within the grid
itself. The development of such communication infrastructure,
especially in the presence of DGs, would allow to implement a
number of smart functions for automation and remote control,
fault location and isolation, service restoration, voltage
regulation, power quality monitoring, anti-islanding protection,
system diagnostic and so on. Traditionally, substations at the
MV level are not equipped with such communication
capabilities. A large variety of communication technologies
can be involved in the realization of smart grid infrastructures,
each one having its own advantages and drawbacks: wire lines
and fiber-optic cables, wireless communication (CDMA, GSM,
GPRS, UMTS, WiMAX, HiperLAN etc.), radio
communication and wireless local area networks (WLAN,
WiFi, ZigBee, etc.) [5]-[6]. The use of the existing power line
infrastructure represents an appealing alternative to the
installation of new communication links. In fact, for the
aforesaid applications, the communications require a relatively
low-speed connectivity, which can be obtained by using PLC
capabilities [7]. Some of these solutions could be suitable for
the urban territory, already covered by the new generation
networks (as the broadband), while they could be inappropriate
for rural areas, where the access to such technologies is limited
and the distance between the various connection points are
significant. The best solution could be a multi-level
architecture, which can use different technologies, at the
various level, (PLC, wireless, radio communications), creating
a low cost network infrastructures. As regards the
communication protocols, the applications for distribution
networks could be added to those already supported by the IP
platforms, as already happens for transmission networks. The
IEC 61850 protocol, already used for automation systems in
primary substations, could represent a good platform for the
development of the target applications, with particular respect
to the implementation of control and protection functions at
secondary substations level. This could be achieved by means
of a proper communication infrastructure based on wireless or
PLC technology or both [7]. Moreover, the employment of this
protocol is also considered in [4]. At the light of all the
aforesaid considerations, the aim of this work is to perform a
feasibility study on the use of power line as communication
technology for medium voltage smart grids. The reason of the
choice of the PLC is that this is the only wire line technology
that has cost comparable to wireless, since the lines are already
present (i.e., the power lines), and they have no service cost.
Thus it is important to fully investigate the potentialities of
PLC technology and to overcome its present limits, in the
perspective of its use and integration into smart grid
communication networks. In literature, different studies have
been presented on the behavior both of HV and MV overhead
lines, on LV cables at high frequency [8]-[10] and on the signal
propagation through MV power transformers [11]. The authors
have carried out some studies in the field of the PLC
technology applications in MV networks. Firstly, in [12]-[13],
a MV cable model in the PLC frequency range was presented
and experimentally validated. Secondly, a complete PLC
system model was experimentally validated both in laboratory
and on preliminary field tests [14]-[16]; the model was
developed in the case of MV cables, including also the
transformer model proposed in [11]. In [17] the PLC system
was studied in the case of MV overhead lines. In [18]-[19] a
new MV/LV transformer model was presented, in order to
study its influence on signal transmission and to investigate the
possibility that the PLC signal can cross the power transformer
itself. The results obtained in the previous works showed the
feasibility of the proposed solution. In this paper a new step of
the study is presented, concerning the possibility to employ the
PLC as two-ways communication system between secondary
substations of a MV distribution networks, in the most
common case of by-pass connection at MV bus-bars of
secondary substations. Different quantities have been analyzed
as modulation techniques, requested bandwidth and bitrate,
coupling device and system attenuation versus frequency in
order to find the best solution for a reliable communication. A
complete model of a real case study, the distribution network
of Ustica Island in the Mediterranean Sea, have been carried
out. Simulation results are presented and discussed.
II. PLCS FOR MV SMART GRIDS APPLICATIONS – PLC
TECHNOLOGIES AND INFLUENCE QUANTITIES
A MV smart grid requires automation and remote control of
secondary substations, fault location and isolation, service
restoration, voltage regulation, power quality monitoring, anti-
islanding protection, system diagnostic, metering and so on.
According to recent development IEC 61850 protocol could
represent a good platform for the development of the target
applications, with particular respect to the implementation of
control and protection functions at secondary substations level.
The PLC network should support timing constraints between
primary and secondary substations which are in the worst case,
communication between two secondary substations, in the
range of 100 - 200 ms. Thus, the communications require a
relatively low bit rate, in the range of 9600 – 28800 bps with a
10-15 kHz bandwidth. Thus, it is necessary to define the
frequency range and modulation technique according to two
requirements: PLC standardization and type of coupling
device. Presently three classes of PLC technologies can be
considered:
• Ultra Narrow Band (UNB): Technologies operating at very
low data rate (≈100 bps) in the ultralow frequency (0.3–3
kHz) band or in the upper part of the super low frequency
(30–300 Hz) band.
• Narrowband (NB) (Distribution Line Carrier or Power Line
Carrier): Technologies operating in the VLF/LF/MF bands
(3–500 kHz), which include the European CENELEC
bands (3–148.5 kHz), the US FCC (Federal
Communications Commission) band (10–490 kHz), the
Japanese ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and
Businesses) band (10–450 kHz), and the Chinese band (3–
500 kHz). In table I a classification can be made, with
respect to the data rate. For Low Data Rate (LDR)
communication, single carrier technologies are used. For
Medium Data Rate (MDR), multicarrier technologies are
considered.
• Broadband (BB) technologies or Broadband over Power
Lines (BPL) devoted to Internet-access applications
operating in the HF/VHF bands (1.8–250 MHz) with multi
carriers modulations and data rates up to 1 Mbps.
TABLE I. NB- PLC CLASSIFICATION
Medium Data
Low Data Rate
Rate
Data Rate 0-30 kb/s 30 kb/s – 1 Mb/s
Single carriers: FSK, BPSK, Multi carriers:
Modulation
PSK, SFSK, QAM PSK + OFDM
ISO/IEC14908-3
(LonWorks),ISO/IEC 14543- ITU-T G.hnem
Standards 3-5 (KNX), CEA-600.31 PRIME, G3-PLC,
(CEBus), IEC 61334, PI1901.2
ANSI/EIA 709.1,2, UPB
The attention have been focused on the low data rate
narrow band (NB) –PLCs, operating in the CENELEC A band
(3-148.5 kHz) [20]. In fact this is the only standardized
available band for PLC in the whole world and in some
countries the use of other frequencies is not allowed. In
different countries (as in Italy), NB–PLCs, operating in the
CENELEC A band, are already used for supporting Automatic
Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure
(AMI) in LV networks based on different transceivers solutions
based on single carrier modulation, (FSK, BPSK, QPSK and 8
PSK) up to 30 kbps [7]-[21]. In the perspective of a
communication system involving both MV and LV level of
distribution networks a frequency up to 82 kHz could be a
good choice thus avoiding interferences with AMR, frequency
range between 72 and 82 kHz. Another important quantity to
be analyzed is system attenuation versus frequency which
depends on signal injection, network configuration, coupling
device, cable line and power transformer. A possible proposal
for PLCs in a MV distribution network is presented in Fig. 1.
The communication between primary and secondary
substations is obtained by installing power line transceivers and
a proper coupling system, at both sides of the by-pass
connection, typically present in the substations themselves. The
proposed solution allows one to maintain communication link
also when switches are open, thanks to the presence of a
transceiver at the beginning and at the end of each MV feeder.
In the case of cable lines core-shield injection is generally
preferred to core-core configuration due to an easier coupling
modality. In the core-shield configuration the signal is injected
between the core of one cable and the shield connected to earth
at the ends of the line. The signal can be injected by capacitive
couplers or inductive couplers. In the case of CENELEC band
capacitive coupling device are preferable and available [22].
HV
Primary substation
MV
MV feeders
Secondary substation
(by-pass connection)
To LV network
Secondary
substation (by-pass
connection)
To LV net
To MV network
Fig. 1. Proposed solution for PLC between primary and secondary MV
networks.The MV coupler with the power line transceiver are
represented with the grey circle ( ).
III. SIMULATIONS
A model of a MV power network, which includes a MV
cable power line and two secondary substations, each one with
its MV/LV power transformer was developed to evaluate
system attenuation versus frequency in the case of secondary
substations power line communication. Each substation can be
configured in both by-pass and terminal configuration. The
simulated PLC system reproduces a portion of the MV power
network of Ustica Island. The line is about 1.4 km long and it is
made up of three unipolar MV shielded cables of type
RG7H1R with aluminum core of 25 mm2 cross-sections. In the
two substations, named “Sidoti” and “Spalmatore”, a 20/0.4
kV/kV power transformer is installed of 100 kVA and 160
kVA, respectively. The signal is transmitted and received by a
ST7580 powerline transceiver (TX/RX). A commercial phase-
to-earth capacitive coupler is used to connect the transceiver to
the MV network. The complete model of the MV system for
power line communication was developed in Matlab
environment. The MV cable power lines, the power
transformers, and the presence of the earth were already model
and experimentally characterized in previous works [15][19].
As regards the ST7580 transceiver, its model was developed
starting from the specifications provided by the manufacturer
[21]. In order to develop a circuital model of the capacitive
coupler the EN 61334-3-21 standard and the commercial data
sheets are considered. In Fig. 2 the circuit model of the MV
phase-to-earth capacitive coupling device is shown.
Fig. 2. Schematic MV phase-to-earth capacitive coupling device
The connector 1 represent the medium voltage side, the
connector 2 is the low voltage side and 3 is the ground. The Cs
coupling capacitor and the Ls inductor values of the series
tuned circuit are deduced from the coupler data sheets, while
the matching circuit parameters Rp, Lp and Cp and the
transformer parameters are obtained by impedance
measurements. In TABLE II the parameter values of the MV
coupling device model are reported.
TABLE II. CAPACITIVE COUPLING DEVICE MODEL PARAMETERS
Series tuned circuit parameters Matching circuit parameters
Cs Ls Rp Cp Lp
[nF] [µH] [kΩ] [nF] [µH]
7.83 518 21 23 240
To verify the model behavior many experimental tests are
carried out and compared with the simulation results. In Fig. 3
the frequency response of the MV capacitive coupling device is
compared with the simulation results. In particular the signal
generated by Agilent 33220A is injected in the low voltage side
and the output is considered between the medium voltage
connector and ground. The load connected to the output is a 50
ohm. The input and output amplitude voltages are measured by
two HP 34401A multimeter.
 between 80 and 100 kHz. In this frequency range the cable line
length has a positive effect on the signal transmission [15] .

Fig. 3. Simulation and experimental frequency response of the MV phase-

to-earth capacitive coupling device.

Finally, the MV net was simulated with impedance values Fig. 5. Simulation results of attenuation. Case study with both substation in
calculated from the knowledge of net parameters given by the by-pass connection The signal is transmitted from Spalmatore and
local distributor of Ustica Island. A schematic representation of received by Sidoti.
the simulated system is reported in Fig. 8. Simulations tests
were performed by transmitting a signal from a MV coupler
connected to the MV bus-bars of each substation. To verify the
PLC transmission performance of the MV and LV power
network the attenuation, defined as:
Vout (1)
attenuation = 20 log10
Vin
was evaluated for different frequencies (in the frequency range
of 50-145 kHz) and for different network configurations. In
more detail, the results of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are referred to the
case in which both substations are configured in by-pass
connection while the results of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are referred to
the case in which the “Sidoti” and “Spalmatore” substations are Fig. 6. Simulation results of attenuation. Case study with “Sidoti”
configured in by-pass and terminal connection, respectively. substation in by-pass connection and “Spalmatore” substation in
terminal connection. The signal is transmitted from Sidoti and received
by Spalmatore.

Fig. 4. Simulation results of attenuation. Case study with both substation in

by-pass connection. The signal is transmitted from Sidoti and received by
Spalmatore.
As can be seen from the results the attenuation depends on both
the network configurations and the frequency of transmission.
The case of terminal connection is, as expected, better than the
by-pass connection where the signal is reduced due to the
presence of two nodes one in transmission and one in
reception. Unfortunately, by-pass connection is the most
frequent net condition. As shown by simulation results
attenuation can be strongly reduced, also in the case of by-pass
connection, when the transmission frequency is in the range
Fig. 7. Simulation results of attenuation. Case study with “Sidoti”
substation in by-pass connection and “Spalmatore” substation in terminal
connection. The signal is transmitted from Spalmatore and received by
Sidoti.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper a performance analysis is carried out, in order to
evaluate the possibility to employ power line communication
(PLC) in a medium voltage (MV) distribution network in the
most common case of by-pass connection at MV bus-bars of
secondary substations. A complete model of a real case study,
the distribution network of Ustica Island, have been carried out.
Simulation results confirm the possibility to employ power line
communication in the case of by-pass connection secondary
substations. Thanks to the developed model it is possible to
choice the best transmission frequency which depends on
various influence quantities as shown before. In the usual case
of cable line length above 1 km a frequency up to 85 kHz could
be a good choice avoiding interferences with AMR, frequency
range between 72 and 82 kHz and taking advantage of the
positive cable line behaviour.
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Fig. 8. Schematic representation of the simulated model for PLC