POWER LINE CARRIER COMMUNICATION

Final Year Project

Introduction
Concept:
For parallel transmission of electricity and data signals

History: from early 1920s after patents for AT&T was issued Field of application:
Voice communication Intercom system Automatic Meter Reading Street light Control Remote security system of Home and Office Power quality Monitoring Emergency Call Station Internet through power line Telephone connection through power line instead of using copper cable

Project Aim and Challenges

Aim:
To gain a detailed knowledge of the challenges faced by PLCC techniques-why they are not a widespread communications method. To research and design a working PLCC system.

Challenges:
Noise
50 Hz periodic noise Single-event impulse noise Periodic impulsive noise Continuous Impulsive noise Non-synchronous periodic noise Background Noise

Attenuation

Basic Block Diagram

Serial Port RS 232

Computer Interfacing Circuit Transmitter

Modulator

Power Amplifier

MAX 232

Coupler

Modulator

Demodulator

AC Power Line

2 2 0 V 50 H z

Power Amplifier

Bandpass Filter

Hybrid Amplifier

Receiver

Coupler
Coupler

Computer Interfacing Circuit

Demodulator

Amplifier

Band Pass Filter

Power Line

Fig. 4.1 Basic Block Diagram of Power Line Communication

Fig.4.2 Functional Block Diagram of PLC-HN system

Images of system testing

FSK modulated signal (oscilloscope view)

FSK Demodulated Signal (Oscilloscope View)

Class AB amplifier output (Oscilloscope view

Input and output of coupler circuit (Oscilloscope view)

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:
Utilization of the pre-existing power grid Broad range of coverage Easy communication option for rural area people

Disadvantages:
Bandwidth limitation Radiation and reception of transmitted signal
Impedance mismatches Distance Security Sharing

Relevant Regulatory Standards for bandwidth allocation:

The frequency restrictions imposed by European Committee for Electro technical Standardization(CENELEC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are shown in figures (a) and (b).

Fig (a):CENELEC frequency Band Allocation

Fig (b): FCC frequency Band Allocation

FCC allows 0 500 kHz frequency band but CENELEC allows 3 kHz to 148.5 kHz

Software code
Software interface:
Coding was done using VB6.0 To open the port
Me.comm.CommPort =1

For settings

Me.comm.Settings = "1200,N,8,1"
1st 2nd 3rd 4th parameter: parameter: parameter: parameter: Baudrate Parity No of bits to be send No of bits for stop parameter

To send data
Me.comm.Output = sendData

Screen shot of my software

To receive data
Me.txtReceive.Text =Me.comm.Input (Where comm is serial port object; sendData is variable; txtReceive is Textfield)

Limitations and Improvements

Limitations:
My project aimed to communicate data between two computers in half-duplex format so transmission and reception of data cannot be done simultaneously, and only character data could be transmitted. I found that signal is attenuated more for larger length of the power line (nearly attenuation factor of 100db/Km for 220V/50Hz) Either increasing transmitting power or placing repeater stations much nearer spacing for long distance transmission

Improvements:
Can be designed for full-duplex communication. Interference can be reduced to great extent by using other advance modulation technique. Improvement in software enables file transfer between computers. Can be used for networking more than two computers within the building. Can be used to control the electric appliances. Can be used for voice communication.

Conclusion
PLC systems are limited in the bandwidth available for communication Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) is the most suitable modulation scheme in an environment of unpredictable phase shift. Coupling network: used to couple a signal onto/out the power line, is designed using high voltage rated capacitor and toroidal transformer (wire-wounded ferrite core). Serial data from one computer is successfully transmitted to other computer connected to power line through the system. A user interface software helps in giving the vision of transmitted and received data in computers. After completion of this project an in-depth knowledge of issues facing power line communication is gained.

Bibliography
1.Rolf Schaumann, and Mac E. Van Valkenburg " Design of Analog Filters", Oxford University Press, 2001 2.Robert F. Coughlin, Frederick F. Driscoll, " Operational Amplifier And Linear Integrated Circuits" 6th Edition, Prentice-Hall India, 2003 3.Douglas V. Hall, "Microprocessor and Interfacing" 2nd Edition, Tata McGraw-Hill, 1999 4.William Stallings, Data and Computer Communications 7th edition, Prentice-Hall 5.Muhammad Ali Mazadi, Janice Gillispie Mazidi, Rolin D. McKinlay,The 8051 Microcontroller and Embedded Systems 2nd edition, Prentice Hall of India 6.Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks 4th edition, Pearson Education Asia 7.Sedra & Smith, "Microelectronics Circuits" 8.Boylested Nashelsky, "Electronic Device & Circuit Theory" 9.Jan Axelson, Serial Port Complete 11th edition, Lakeview research 10.Gilbert Hold, "Understanding Data Communication" 4th Edition 11.Kim R. Fowler, "Electronic Instrument Design" Oxford University Press, 2004 12.Theodore S. Rappaport, "Wireless Communication" 2nd Edition , Prentice-Hall India, 2005 13.Osama Bilal, and Er Liu, and Yangpo Gao, and Timo O. Korhonen, "Design of Broadband Coupling Circuits for Power-Line Communication" 14.Fazela M. Vohra, Mehul chheda, Ketaki pradhan, Power Line Carrier Communications, India 15.Kevin Wade Ackerman, Timed Power Line Data Communication, Canada

THANK YOU