Development and field demonstration of PLC communication bridge for distribution automation system

It is essential to establish a stable communication infrastructure in order to establish a distribution automation system. However, pad-mount switchgear located in a dense city center is often unable to connect to communication due to 'impossible to install communication cables' or 'impossible to communicate wirelessly due to obstacles'. This paper introduces a PLC (Power Line Communication) communication bridge device developed for the communication connection of the pad mount switchgear. The developed PLC communication bridge device is characterized by using a neutral conductor of a distribution power cable as a communication line. Through on-site demonstration tests, the communication performance of 'maximum communication distance: 550 [m]', 'communication speed: at least 10 [Mbps]', and 'communication success rate: 99.93%' in an underground distribution cable environment was verified. Data encryption technology and device authentication technology were applied for the field application of the PLC communication bridge device, and reliability was verified through an impact assessment test on fault current and q failure current flowing in the distribution cable.