• Login
    View Item 
    •   DSpace Home
    • AUS Theses & Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    •   DSpace Home
    • AUS Theses & Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Data Communication through Distribution Network for Smart Grid Applications

    Thumbnail
    View/ Open
    35.232-2014.36 Youssef El Haj.pdf (4.918Mb)
    Date
    2014-05
    Author
    El Haj, Youssef
    Advisor(s)
    Albasha, Lutfi
    El Hag, Ayman
    Type
    Thesis
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Description
    A Master of Science thesis in Electrical Engineering by Youssef El Haj entitled, "Data Communication through Distribution Network for Smart Grid Applications," submitted in May 2014. Thesis advisor is Dr. Lutfi Albasha and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Ayman Hassan El-Hag. Available are both soft and hard copies of the thesis.
    Abstract
    This work investigates a novel solution for overcoming excessive signal attenuation in distribution transformers for power line communication (PLC) applications in smart grids. The proposed solution avoids classical hardware bypassing and does not require sophisticated modulation schemes like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). It explores the resonance that occurs in transformer windings at the kHz range to transmit the communication signal. The transformer is modeled as a network of resistors, inductors and capacitors. This results in several resonance frequencies in the kHz and MHz ranges that can be used to pass the communication signal. Several methods can be used to obtain the frequency response of distribution transformers. In this work, the Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) technique is implemented. This technique measures the amplitude and phase response due to the application of a swept sinusoid at one terminal of the transformer winding. FRA measurement of a 20kVA (220/20kV) transformer indicated that there is a resonance at 490 kHz with a gain of 2 V/V and a bandwidth of 40 kHz. The captured frequency response is then modelled as a communication channel. Then digital modulated Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) signals (at resonance and nonresonance frequencies) are transmitted through the modeled transformer. Sending data at 490 kHz within the 40 kHz bandwidth resulted in Bit Error Rate (BER) values that appear better than the Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel because of the associated gain in the transformer. In addition, the simulation verified that sending data at non-resonance frequencies or outside the resonance bandwidth resulted in poor BER. The final issue investigated in this work is the effect of distribution cables from the utility substation up to the customers' distribution transformers. The simulation confirmed that the cable at high frequency acts as an attenuator with a value of attenuation that depends on the cable length. The BER was calculated for variable cable lengths cascaded with the transformer. By sending a BPSK signal at resonance with a bandwidth of 20 kHz, the BER was zero for cases where the attenuation was less than 40 dB. The research results showed that sending data at resonance frequencies has the potential to be an effective method for improving data communication using PLC for smart grid applications.
    DSpace URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11073/7732
    Collections
    • Masters Theses

    Browse

    All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsCollege/DeptArchive ReferenceSeriesThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsCollege/DeptArchive ReferenceSeries

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Submission Policies | Terms of Use | Takedown Policy | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us | Send Feedback

    Return to AUS
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV