Avaliação da aplicabilidade de transformadores de potência para comunicação PLC entre circuitos de BT e MT

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the applicability of power transformers for the transmission of PLC signals between LV and MV circuits, aiming to enhance the communication infrastructure of smart grids. The experimental setup includes PLC modems PL3120 and ATPL360, and isolated inductive couplers of the MICU 300A OH/LF type, the latter being employed to allow their installation on MV cables without the need to shut down the electrical system. In this context, the objective of this work is to evaluate techniques for interconnecting LV and MV circuits using power transformers as part of the coupling network, focusing on narrowband PLC signal communication in the frequency range from 100 kHz to 500 kHz. The results suggest the existence of efficient communication channels between the LV and MV terminals of different phases, which are comparable in performance to those established within the same phase. This is relevant from two perspectives: first, the observed behavior enables the implementation of redundant channels using different phases to mitigate the effects of network impedance variability and the diverse noise patterns present in power system circuits. Second, the propagation of PLC signals across different phases can hinder the deployment of phase-separated PLC networks; additionally, in the case of redundant channels, varying propagation delays between phases may cause interference at the receiving terminals.