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Nowadays, power line communications (PLC) are a widely used technology in distribution grids, both for automatic meter reading and automation applications. PLC performances (in terms of capacity, coverage, robustness, and data transmission rate) can be significantly affected by electrical network topologies, connected loads and disturbances. Thus, utilities and modem manufacturers are increasing their interest in electrical network characterization. In this framework, a software tool is proposed in this paper to measure received signal and noise levels. As case study, it is implemented on a G3 PLC transceiver, widely used for smart metering purposes. In this way, a PLC channel characterization can be performed without connecting external instruments, by using already installed smart meters with the updated firmware. The software tool allows having a better understanding of signal attenuation influence on communication channel performances. Moreover, possible solutions could be suggested avoiding some frequency bands or regulating some transmission/reception parameters.

This paper investigates the feasibility of a smart metering architecture for modern power grids in the smart cities framework. A particular focus is made on Automatic Meter Reading, with the aim of facing some costs and safety drawbacks of current solutions (such as dependence from wireless communication providers, reliability problems in bad weather conditions, and exposition to cyber-attacks). The proposed architecture exploits power line communications (PLC) at both low and medium voltage level, thanks to new devices and an innovative medium voltage PLC coupling system. The new coupling solution and the whole smart metering architecture are experimentally verified in a wide frequency range, from CENELEC A band up to 200 kHz, by using different modulation techniques; the on-field measurement campaign has been carried out on the distribution network of Favignana Island (Mediterranean Sea). Success rate and RTT measured in real environment confirm the feasibility of the proposed solution.

One of the main problems in the diffusion of power line communication (PLC) in medium voltage (MV) networks is the need of a dedicated PLC coupler to be installed all over the network. To avoid this problem, the authors have studied, prototyped and patented an innovative PLC coupling solution which uses electrical elements embedded in most of the switchgears already installed in MV networks, i.e. the capacitive dividers of the voltage detecting systems (VDS). The new solution prototype is described in this paper, highlighting the advantages in terms of a significant reduction of both direct costs of equipment and infrastructures and indirect costs of installation and service interruption. The coupling performances are verified with PLC signals at different frequency ranges and with different modulation techniques. In particular, this paper shows how the new solution coupling performances can be extended even to the FCC frequency range and the transmission of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulated signals.

This paper summarizes the authors research activity concerning the design, modeling and experimental characterization of a new coupling system for medium voltage (MV) narrow band power line communications (NB-PLC). The proposed solution has been patented by authors and it exploits the capacitive divider of voltage detecting systems (VDSs) normally used to reveal the mains voltage presence, thus avoiding the use of dedicated MV couplers. In the following, the modeling of the VDS capacitive divider is presented and the interface card design is described, based on simulation of the whole PLC transmission channel. Laboratory tests are also presented. Finally, the results are shown of an on-field measurement campaign, which has been carried out the MV distribution networks of the Islands of Ustica and Favignana. Transmission tests demonstrate that the proposed VDS coupling system can be effective for narrowband modulated signal transmission.

The aim of this paper is to develop a complete model of a power-line communication (PLC) system operating on a medium-voltage (MV) network. The core-shield configuration was chosen for signal transmission in the power cables. In order to validate the developed model experimental, the medium-voltage network of the Favignana island was used to carry out detailed testing. The transmission was performed between two transformer substations in the presence of mains voltage (i.e., 24 kV). ST7540 FSK power-line transceivers, together with capacitive coupling interfaces, were used for the transmission and the reception of the communication signal. The correlation between the experimental measurements and the simulation results would appear to validate the use of the developed model for the analysis of MV transmission channels.

Power line communication is becoming important as a leading technology in Smart Grid applications. This paper presents a new system to reduce the power consumption of the power line modems, implementing a zero-power stand-by feature. The incoming wake-up signal is as simple as a PLC frame and its associated energy is used to supply the wake-up logic. The system is mainly conceived for street lighting systems that use power line communication and where the stand-by power represents an issue because there are thousands of lamps in a city, and the total power consumption of the modems in stand-by mode is not negligible. This paper presents the architecture of the system, as well as the design choices. Experimental results of the system applied to a street light network show that it is possible to wake-up selectively a cluster of lamps up to a distance of about 250m.

The aim of the paper is to show how narrowband power line communications (NB-PLCs) can be a valid solution for medium voltage grids. Advantages and drawbacks of this solution are analyzed, starting from some experimental communication results, which were carried out on the medium power system networks of the islands of Ustica and Favignana, in the presence of the net voltage. Furthermore, some communication architectures and hardware prototypes based on NB-PLCs are proposed for different smart grids applications.