Strategies for PLC signal injection in electricity distribution grid transformers

Distribution transformers are found in secondary substations, and connect to three phase low voltage lines that deliver electricity to points of supply. Electricity customers are charged for their consumption based in the measurements registered in meters present at the point of supply. (PLC) signal injection in key element in PLC signal PRIME is a narrowband PLC band, used by utilities to Power Line Communication distribution transformers is a propagation in distribution grids. technology in CENELEC A communicate with meters at maximum data rates of 122.9 kbps. PRIME technology establishes subnetworks rooting at distribution transformers in secondary substations, where the so called Base Nodes are installed, to communicate with Service Nodes present at meters in Smart Metering environments. This paper analyzes the alternatives for PLC signal injection, either single phase or three phase, through different field tests, in order to improve overall network constitution and performance of meters. The results and conclusions may be extrapolated to any other low voltage PLC technology in the same frequency band. The conclusions of the paper make recommendations to use specific PLC injection configurations, depending on the topologies under study, and provide guidance for product development in this area which has fundamental influence in the results obtained for the PLC communication system.