Analysis of Broadband PLC Characteristics as a Second Use Case for Distribution System Operators

The current technical condition of power cables and the grid states in German distribution networks are usually unknown to a distribution system operator because the necessary sensors, diagnostic measurements and communication technologies are rare to find in the medium and low voltage networks. To meet the growing demand for communications in the context of their development to smart grids, the broadband powerline technology (BPL) provides a convenient and cost-effective way to realize communication there, since it uses the existing infrastructure as its transmission medium. In a research project a second use case of BPL technology was investigated to achieve another benefit for distribution network operators beside the solution of communication tasks. In this paper an approach to analyze the data transmission characteristics of a BPL communication to gather new information about cable conditions and grid states is presented. Therefore, the results of laboratory and field testing are presented in combination with the theoretical background, which confirm that the aforementioned second use case of BPL is extant and usable.