Power Line Communications for smart grid aplplications in the secondary distribution network
Smartgrid, Powerline Communications, PLC, OFDM, TDMA OFDM, Narrow Band PLC, NB-PLC, G3-PLC, ERDF G3, PLC Modem, PLC Repeater, PLC Gateway
Undoubtedly electric networks will increasingly use communications networks for agility and reliability in the supervision and management of energy transmission and distribution. In low voltage networks, the power system sector closest to the residential consumer, numerous services that can be offered will also depend on communication infrastructures. Considering that the electric power companie's metallic grid already accesses all customers, Power Line Communications (PLC) can bring the rapid deployment of services and communication interfaces standardization. Although power lines are not suitable for data communications offering great signal attenuation, new communication technologies can bypass grid limitations through complex techniques of modulation, data coding, and network protocols. These technologies are used in this work through resources made available by the electronics industry for the development of devices that operate in a PLC network. The applicability of these technologies is evaluated through the construction and testing of devices that make up a PLC communication infrastructure implemented in a miniature secondary network plant