PLCC SYSTEM

by

P.R.MEKAP

Asst.Engineer
GRIDCO POWER
TRAINING CENTRE SLDC,BBSR

1
Typical PLCC Installation

WT
WT
cc
cc
C
FA X

ETL ETL

FA X

M M

PR PC MS PAX FAX PR PC RTU FAX

MS = Master station PR= Protection relay

PAX = Private automatic exchange FAX = Facsimile equipment
PR = Protection relay M = Modem
PC = Computer RTU = Remote terminal unit
M = Modem

2
System description
 PLCC is widely used in all power utilities as a primary communication service
for telephony, telemetry and tele-protection.
 The high tension transmission line of the utility serves as a metallic medium
for propagation of HF carrier. The PLCC system is completely under the control
and ownership of the utility which is the biggest advantage.
 This system of communication is very economic, dependable and secure
compared to other alternatives like HF wireless , VSAT or lease line.
 If the communication requirement is more than 10 voice channels between
two stations, adoption of wide band systems like microwave radio or OPGW
communication is justified , other wise PLCC is the best solution for inter
communication between grid substations in a power utility.
 PLCC communication is feasible for any distance of the line section up to 800
kM.

3
 The alloted frequency band used for PLCC is 90 – 500kHz in India. Type of modulation
recommended is SSB-SC as per IEC-495 specification.
 PLCC channel carrying voice and super imposed data has a gross band width of 4kHz.
 The RF power requirement of a PLCC transmitter is 20W to overcome a line attenuation
of 40dB . PLCC terminals of 40W and 80W RF output are available.
 The RF out put of PLCC terminal is injected in to high voltage transmission line using a
suitable high voltage HF coupling capacitor CC or CVT of capacitance 4 to10nF

 Also wave traps having main coil inductance of 0.2mH to 2mH are inserted at both ends

of the line to block the RF power entering into the substation bus..

4
 EHT Line
Wave Trap

Coupling
Capacitor

Components of PLCC

PLCC Terminal
Coaxial
Translates voice cable
and data into Radio
LMU
Freq. Carrier.

5
 POWER FREQUENCY & CARRIER FREQUENCY

Power Line
WT (50Hz)

CC

RF carrier
(90-500kHz)

PAX

RTU
PLCC TERMINAL
Transmission line

(ABB-ETL41)

6
 Function of PLCC terminal

IF

AF IF PA R.F Signal
IF RF
(90 to 500 kHz)

User Signal H H

(0 to 4 kHz) AF RF
IF
AF
A gain RF
IF
User Side Line Side
IF

Frequency conversion : audio signals into radio spectrum and vice versa

Amplification : Sufficient RF power to compensate the line attenuation

7
Wave Trap function
90- 500kHz ( HF) : Blocked

WAVE
Trap

Behind The carrier

Front signal is
transmitted over
Coupling
Capacitor
Power Line to
reach the
opposite end
•Transformer(s) Line
•BusBar Matching The carrier
Unit signal is blocked
by wave trap;
not allowed to
enter inside the
Coaxial switch yard

PLCC terminal

8
 Wave trap function
50 Hz (Power Freq): through pass
HV Line
Power energy

PLC Signal

Substation

Line Trap = High Impedance for PLC signal

Low Impedance for Power energy

9
Wave Traps Mounting Options

Vertical Pedestal Horizontal Pedestal Suspension

10
Wave Trap is a Band Stop filter (50-
500kHz)

Inductance
of
main Coil

Series
Lightning
resistance
Arrester

Tuning
Capacitor

Damped single Line Trap

11
Wave Trap assembly

Corona ring
Lifting lug
Terminal
Main coil
Tuning device
Pedestal
Protective device
Tie rod

12
Capacitive Voltage Transformer
( CVT )

13
 220kV
CVT and HF connection
8800 pf

8800 pf CVT
HF

LMU DISCONNECT
HF to GND

COAXIAL CABLE
20mH
Drain coil

PLCC
TERMINAL

14
LMU : Type-MCD-80, ABB make

15
Co-axial Cable

16
 LMU function
LMU = impedance matching + high
voltage Protection
 To prevent dangerous potential on the
PLCC connection
s/s
To match impedance of PLCC set with
power Line impedance. LMU PLCC
Coaxial

Matching + Protection

LMU
17
 LMU functional blocks

Substation HV -line
Wave
trap
PLCC
Coupling Panel
capacitor

Tx

or Coax cable Rx
ABB
MCD 80

18
ABB- MCD 80
internal wiring

Coax
To PLCC
CVT
Z 2 75ž
3 T
A G K C1 L H 125ž
L
B
E.S
A C M C2 N 2
Drain
Z1 Coil Z2
Q1 D Match
F1 O C3 P
E L2 Trans

L1 F Q C4 R T1
1

LE C

19
 Built in HV protection devices of
LMU

 Drainage coil to sink the leakage currents from CC/CVT to ground.

 Lightning arrester across the CVT HF terminals and ground for
transients protection.
 Earth switch for grounding of CVT HF terminal during maintenance.
 RF Transformer for galvanic isolation between power line and PLCC
terminal.

20
HF Coupling modes

LT

LT

Cc LT

Cc Cc
PLC LMU

PLC LMDU LMU

LT
LT

Cc Cc
Phase-to-Ground

LMDU LMU
Inter circuit
PLC

Phase-to-Phase

21