2006 International Conference on Power System Technology

Monitoring System of Distribution Running States

Based on Broadband Power Line Communication
Xu Zeng* 2, Ming Liang*12, Huaizhi Liu*3, Yan Ren*12 and Rui Yang*12
*1RCIEPT, North China Electric Power University
No.2, Beinong Road, Beijing, 102206, China
*2 Taiyuan ZHONGBO Information Science Institute,
Room 501, No.11, Science and Technology Street, Hi-tech Zone, Shanxi 030006, China
*3Taiyuan Communication Network Management Office of Beijing Military Area
Taiyuan, 030006, China

Abstract--Nowadays, the domestic and foreign technologies of

Low Voltage Broadband Power Line Communication are getting
increasingly mature and perfect, and it has come into successful
applications in our country. Compared with other systems of the
same kind, the system based on Broadband Power Line
Communication has the benefits of timely and reliable data
transmission, observing monitoring sites via real-time video
image, low system cost and little maintenance. Therefore, the
paper proposes the monitoring system of distribution running
based on Broadband Power Line Communication, introduces
constituted of hardware and software in detail, and discusses
functions and characteristics of this system.
Keywords--Broadband Power Line Communication, Distribution

Running, Real-time Video Image

I. INTRODUCTION

Electricity relates to the vial life line of our national

economy, which is the main guarantee of modern
construction. Now electric industry in our country is in the
highly-developing phase, therefore, to satisfy the
requirements for high power supply quality and service level,
a kind of monitoring system of distribution running is needed,
which can real-time monitor and manage the running states
of electric meters and transformers, realizing the synthetic
functions of focus storage and monitoring. So electric
department can improve controlling management and
monitoring capability for the systems of power supply check,
charging and corresponding accounting and charging of
electric energy. Combined with the current states of electric
power system, this paper proposes a monitoring system of
distribution running based on BPLC(Broadband Power Line
Communication). In this system, the transformer is used as
the master station, and those customers in control of it as

1-4244-0111-9/06/$20.00c2006 IEEE.

slave ones. Moreover, this system gathers information of

quantity of user electric charges and video picture data from
key devices(e.g. electric energy meter, transformer, etc.) with
PLC terminals. Then distribution network is directly used as
the communication channel (not the traditional power line
carrier mode) to transfer data to master station and store them
in it. Also data is analyzed and alarmed with smart software.
Thus, this system implements the integrated functions of
focus storage and power supply management, so that it
greatly promotes management and economic benefits, finds
out and treats abnormal circumstances timely to clear faults
and hidden trouble in the very beginning.
II.

COMMUNICATION MANNER OF THE

MONITORING SYSTEM

As automation of distribution network is energetically

implemented and reconstructed in our country, power supply
bureaus in cities have deployed optical fibers to 35kV
transformer substations. Therefore, as long as we find an
effective way with low cost to deal with data transmission
problems between user ends and 35kV transformer
substations, it can help power supply bureaus to build their
own monitoring systems to effectively realize management of
distribution monitoring around transformer substations.
The communication modes common used now include
general public network PSTN, GPRS wireless mode or power
line carrier. As for PSTN or GPRS, it does not in restraint of
transfer distance, but it has the problems of deploying extra
lines or dropping off too easily, and it not only can not
guarantee the reliability of data transfer, but also needs high
construction cost and maintenance charge. The manner of

power line carrier realizes electric energy feed and data

communication using the established distribution network,
but it has the problems of strong signal attenuation, serious
interference and time variation; while Therefore, it is difficult
to realize real-time monitoring of distribution running in
large range according to the above methods.
Broadband Power Line Communication is a kind of
communication technology, which uses Medium Voltage(MV)
& Low Voltage(LV) distribution network as the
communication media to implement transmission of data,
voice and real time image. Nowadays, many low voltage
3
broadband PLC access and meter-reading sites have been
available, coming to commercialization. Meanwhile, medium
voltage broadband PLC technology is continuously
developing, and devices of MV&LV PLC with 200Mbps or
above have come out. Thus, after advanced technologies are
applied to the monitoring system of distribution running, it
will not only overcome the shortcomings of the above
communication manners, but will transmit general data
information effectively as well as video image data on the
key monitoring sites according to the requirements depending
on its advantages of bandwidth. On the basis of no extra
investment, it adds an important function to the system to
monitoring the vital monitoring points more visually and
obviously.

III. MONITORING SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION

RUNNING STATES
A. Structure of Monitoring System

This system is a monitoring system of distribution running

states, integrating many advanced technologies including
energy saving, preventing electric-theft, tracing and
monitoring. PLC MV Master/MV repeater, PLC LV
master/LV repeater, PLC gateway and PLC terminals are also
included in the system. Transmission rate of MV devices is
205Mbps and transmission distance is longer than 1500m;
transmission rate of LV devices is 4.5Mbps, transmission
distance is far than 1000m except transmission rate of 300m
or above of PLC gateway, transmission delay is less than
10ms. This system is composed of the master station center
in transformer (including master server, monitoring terminal,
printer and PLC MV master), communication channel

(including MV&LV distribution network, PLC MV&LV

repeater, devices for signal to cross transformer (1 PLC MV
master+1 PLV LV master), PLC LV master and PLC gateway,
etc.) and slave stations in user side or transformer (including
PLC terminal, multi-functional digital electric energy meter
and), as is shown in Figure 1.

X
*

I-~~~~~

t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1
Structure of Monitoring System of Distribution Running States
Figure

Based on Broadband Power Line Communication

B. Hardware and Software of the System

Hardware of System

(I)PLC gateway
The gateway is used for data connection between two
networks. With PLC gateway, packets and format conversion
among different networks are processed, so one network can
recognize and process application data from other ones. PLC
gateway provides the slave stations connected with full
functional electric access. First PLC terminals connect digital
energy meters or camera in slave stations to LV distribution
network, and then PLC gateway as the master controller of
terminals to provide electric access from out-station for these
terminals. PLC gateway supports data transmission rate of
4.5Mbps and can transfer various data, voice and video
signals. It is equipped with 1010OBase-TX Ethernet
interface, which enables it to connect PLC terminals to LV
power line. When the master outside the slave stations is in
control of LV power line, PLC can ensure communication
between networks within the slave station. And PLC has

many secure features, which provides security for data of

power line users; meanwhile, DHCP and FTP service as well
as automatic remote configuration are supported. Parameters
are as follows:
O Frequency band: 1.6-12MHz
(
Modulation: OFDM
Kg) Data transmission rate: 4.5Mbps
I Distance: 300m
(
Capability of handling up to 64 MAC addresses and 32
PLC connections
(2)PLC terminal
Acquisition of electric energy data from digital electric
meters; acquisition of three-phase voltage, three-phase
current, three-phase power and frequency; acquisition of
picture data of monitoring point from camera; acquisition of
data about transformer from TTU. Parameters are as follows:
O Frequency band: 1.6-12MHz
Data transmission rate: 4.5Mbps
(
Data interface: 3xDVI/USB2.0 interface(camera);
1GxRS-485/RS-232 interface(Digital
electric
energy meter and TTU terminal)
(3)PLC MV master
It is capable of injection and pick-up of power line signals,
which can pick up signals directly from PLC terminals in
transformer slave station to MV power line as well as pick up
from MV power line to master station. Thus, connection
between PLC terminals and master server is set up and data
switch is processed. And it can retrieve signals during the
frequency between 3M and 34MHz. The LV power line
network provides efficient, reliable and high-speed backbone
interface. Parameters are as follows:
(0) Frequency band: 3-34MHz
Modulation: OFDM
(
Y2) Data transmission rate: 205Mbps
( Distance: 1500m
(4)PLC LV master
Connect more than one slave station to LV power line with
PLC LV master to control LV access network and the
connected slave networks. It is combined with PLC MV
master as a device for signal to cross transformer, so that
signals from MV line can be safely transmitted to LV line or
further to user terminals. It has the data transmission rate of

4.5Mbps, and are capable of handling up to 1024 MAC

addresses and 64 parallel PLC connections. Parameters are as
follows:
O Frequency band: 1.6-12MHz
(
Modulation: OFDM
Data transmission rate: 4.5Mbps
I Distance: 1000m
(5)PLC repeater
It not only simply amplifies signals(If so, noises are also
magnified at the same time), but completely receives signals
from insulting devices or another repeater, removes noises
and corrects errors, resolves IP and routing data packets, and
transmits data packets that have been processed to MV line.
Featured with standard 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet interfaces,
a PLC environment controlled by LV master can be easily
connected to the backbone network via MV line, while MV
repeater transmits data between master and slave stations
with interfaces to upload data and download control signals
from master station so as to achieve the repeater function.
Compared with LV power line, the distance that MV line
covers are much longer, so more PLC repeaters should be
installed on the line according to specific distance to ensure
signal to be safely transmitted to the master station.

Software of Monitoring System of Distribution Running

States
Software of Monitoring System of Distribution Running
States based on Broadband Power Line Communication is a
upper machine software specially designed for the
monitoring system. It includes nine major modules of
parameter configuration, Picture process, charge calculation,
real-time monitoring, line-loss calculation, report print,
inquiry, data management and system task, as is shown in
Figure 2.
Real-time Monitoning
Module

Parameter
Module

Picture Process
Module

System Task
Module

Inquiry
Module

Monitoning System of Distnibution PowerNetwork and Customer Information

Line-loss Calculation
Module

Charge Calculation
Module

Report Pnnt
Module

Data Management
Module

Figure 2 Structure of Software Modules for Monitoring System of

Distribution Running States

This monitoring system mainly has the following

functions:
1) Remote meter-reading: realize remote reading data of
electric energy meter using power line communication.
2) Data acquisition: real-time acquire and report the
following data of LV distribution tank: three-phase
voltage, three-phase current, electric energy, switch
status, power factor, overall time when voltage and
current exceed upper and lower limits.
3) Thread loss: calculate thread loss of slave station or
specified out-thread tank and switch areas according to
different time sessions. On the basis of demands, draw
the thread loss curve in terms of hour, day and month,
and analyze abnormal electric cases of users.
4) Real-time Monitoring and Alarm: real-time watch and
maintenance parameters of electric meter, and view data
on it. Receive alarm information when devices goes
wrong or electric meters make alarms. Users' electricity
thieving actions can be caught at the beginning, and it
can deal with them correspondingly to prevent the loss
of electrical resource effectively.

2)

3)

IV. FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

A. Functions
Due to the flexible deployment of PLC, it can cover the
cell areas conveniently and remotely real-time monitor
transformer and electric meters of users. As for this system, it
can automatically realize data acquisition and storage,
monitor transformer and electric meters and statistically
analyze real-time and history data with PC in the master
station, having the following functions:
1) Electric energy management: it adopts data acquisition
system with high reliability and electric multi-access
digital communication machine based on freely error
correct and allowance technology with high
signal-to-noise. Automatically observes data on the
electric meters, and accurately counts energy. Burden
trace and forecast as well as draw burden curve.
According to burden distribution of each time segment,
distribute and transmit energy reasonably to reduce
burden fluctuate. In terms of burden analysis, it

4)

5)

provides with fundamental bases of power grid structure

adjustment, form the best burden preparation scheme to
enhance running efficiency and reduce line loss.
Management of power supply reliability: master
real-time running of MV&LV distribution network and
timely make scientific and reasonable adjustments to
clear hidden troubles of accident in the very beginning,
making it possible for the electric power supply to keep
stable and reliable to enhance power supply security.
Completely in control of running status of transformer
and distribution network. Make statistics of
mathematical theory and online diagnosis for running
data, study actual status, changing trend and regulation
of running devices, make out scientific forecast and
access. Change "periodic maintenance" to "Status
maintenance". Actual running status maintenance takes
in place of fixed maintenance cycle to maintenance
efficiency and further to enhance power supply
reliability. Report time when power cut automatically,
classify them, and calculate reliability of power supply.
Management of power supply quality: timely master the
parameters including electric quality, voltage, current,
power factors, voltage power supply, power cut add-up
time, current overload, temperature beyond limits,
electricity leak, CT short circuit via real-time
monitoring transformer, electric meters and attached
gauge. Thus, the power supply departments can know
about security of devices, qualified rate of electric
quality, time and mode of electric theft in time. Prompt
power supply to take corresponding measures so as to
guarantee the safe running of devices and further
improve quality, reliability and thread loss.
Data and picture process and abnormal status alarm:
process in real time and analyze the gathered data and
picture signals to make it possible for the monitoring
terminals to observe the situation of measured points. If
abnormal cases happen, the system will recognize and
process picture and present warning automatically.
Service and charge management: in the master station,
PCs with high performance are in charge of service and
charge management. Check, calculate, store, analyze
and manage the electric data to know about the use of

customers accurately and timely. It not only makes it

convenient for customers to use, but ensures the legal
benefits of electric power departments.
B. Characteristics

This monitoring system has the following features:

1) It can directly use LV power line as transmission
medium which is from 35kV transformer substation to
1 OkV MV distribution power line of user transformer or
from user transformer to user electric meters.
2) It can not only effectively reflect information of
electricity to monitoring master station, but enable
monitoring personnel to master operating status of
devices in monitoring sites with video and picture
straightly.
3) Integrated electric energy computation management can
be implemented to make it more systematized, scientific
and digital.
4) No extra power line is necessary to be deployed in this
system, and it has short cycle, low cost, high reliability
and nice quality of data transmission.
5) It effectively prevents illegal issues such as power-theft
or other impairments from happening.
6) Function of management is getting more perfect, thus,
much work handled by person is much more reduced,
and so are its bad effects.
7) Its installation is convenient, field proceeding project is
little and maintenance is easier.
V.

CONCLUSIONS

To sum up, this system implements functions of real-time

monitoring users and burden forecast, which uses MV&LV
PLC as its transmission media with technologies of
communication, computer, automation and system
integration. So it is a synthesized system integrated with
power management and burden control, an important
technical means for realizing management of power grid
distribution and electric burden as well as for electric utility
to enter market to improve social and economic benefits. At
present, hardware and software designs of this system have
been completed, and the experimental units will be built in
Taiyuan in 2006. It is believed that, after the system becomes
popular in power systems, it will greatly facilitate external

services of electric enterprises and enhance internal working

efficiency, it will facilitate information development of power
systems as well as improve economic benefits and
management level of enterprises.
VI. REFERENCE
[1] MIN Tao, "Joint Schemes of Electricity Energy Metering System and

Their Implementation", Power System Technology, August 2003, pp59-63.

[2] HU Xi-ling, "Design on the Software of Master Station of Automatic
Meter Reading System", YANTAI NORMAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

(NATURAL SCIENCE EDITION), vol.20 no.4, pp.268-271, 2004.

[3] LI Wen-jun, "Design and Implementation of Remote Reading System of
Water Meters", PROCESS AUTOMATION INSTRUMENTATION, vol.25

no.9, pp.54-57, 2004.

[4] ZHANG Kai, "A Discussion on Application Mode of Automatic Meter

Reading System", Power System Technology, May 2001,pp62-64.

[5] Gorge Jee, Con Edison. "Demonstration of the Technical Viability of
PLC Systems on Medium and Low Voltage Lines in the United States".
IEEE Communications Magazine, May 2003, pp 108-112.

[6] Daidclark, "Powerline communication [J]". Finally Ready for Prime

Time Computer, vol.15 no.6, pp.168-172, 1998.

VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Xu Zeng (1983-), male, master. His research interests include wireless

communication, power line communication and computer application. North

China

Electric

Power

University.

Tel:

010-51971471.

Email:

zengxu666@163.com
Ming Liang (1956-), male. He obtained his ScD. degree in Electrical

Engineering and Information Technology from Vienna University of

Technology, Austria in 2002. He is currently a special-appointed professor in

College of Information Engineering at North China Electric Power

University (Beijing), managing director of ZBISI (Taiyuan ZHONGBO

Information Science Institute), chairman of CIEPT (Council of Information
Electric Power Technology), as well as vice-chairman of CAEPS (Council of
Automation for Electric Power System), China Society for Hydropower

Engineering (CSHE). His current research interests include wireless &power

line communication, and information electric power & computer techniques.
E-mail: lm@ncepu.edu.cn

Huaizhi Liu, male, Taiyuan Communication Network Management Office

of Beijing Military Area.

Yan Ren (1981-), female, master. Her research interests include wireless

communication, power line communication and Electric Power Information

Technology. North China Electric Power University. Tel: 010-51971471.
Email: renyanO3@163.com
Rui Yang (1986-), female, master. Her research interests include wireless

communication, power line communication and Electric Power Information

Technology. North China Electric Power University. Tel: 010-51971471.
Email: yangrui.010@163.com