D2-01 A01

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR OPERATION OF HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT

CURRENT LINES
by
Carlos Di Palma*

Guillermo Galarza

Tranelsa Consultora S.A.

ABB S.A.

(Argentina)

(Argentina)

SUMMARY
Within the High Voltage Transmission System planning in Argentina, the installation of very long High Voltage
Direct Current (HVDC) Lines is under consideration.
In order to transmit digital protection links, packet switched control networks, video surveillance, corporate
Ethernet networks, generation shedding automatisms, etc., it is mandatory to adopt solutions based on broadband
transmission technologies, as the only way to provide enough transmission capacity.
However, due to the long distances involved in those HVDC lines, broadband communication systems will
include repeaters and other resources to overcome the signal deterioration, which are located outside of the
substations, becoming real weak points in case of any natural disaster (flood, earthquakes, rainstorms, etc.) or
attack. As direct consequence, both reliability and maintenance costs will be strongly affected.
In order to have a reasonable back-up communication system, and consequently to increase Reliability and
Availability figures of the HVDC Lines, it is desirable to use Digital Power Line Carrier System (DPLC), in order
to obtain the maximum channel efficiency (Cd/BWd), with the minimum cost/link length ratio.
By means of this solution, it will be possible to carry the minimal required information for an acceptable and safe
operation of the HVDC Lines in case of an emergency.
This work describes the main criteria necessary to be taken into account for the design of power line carrier links
for long haul lines, as well as to describe the technologies normally applied for this purpose in Power Utility.
The paper will develop two main aspects in order to obtain a good emergency communication system:
design and planning considerations
main equipment features to be taken into account
The behaviour of the DPLC link capacity in function of a given (S/N)min will be studied. The criteria for the
maximum availability will be analyzed, as well as the complete design based on the worst case, in order to assure
the permanent link operation under adverse S/N conditions.
The limit for the information capacity established by the Shannon Theorem will be discussed. The required BW
in order to transmit the amount of data assigned to the emergency communication system, will be contrasted with
the DPLC`s equipment features.
Additionally, the paper will analyze the advantage of the usage of equipment that can be configured as both,
DPLC as well as APLC, so as to obtain an additional alternative for the security in the transmission of the
information.
Finally, a summary will show the comparative analysis of the information to be transmitted by each
communication system (Main and Backup), under normal operation and emergency respectively, in order to
clarify how the goal is obtained with the proposed integrated solution.
KEYWORDS
High Voltage Direct Current Lines (HVDC), Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC), Backup / Emergency Systems,
Multicarrier Modulation.

D2-01 A01

2/11

1.- HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM

Among the several options for transmitting energy between Santa Cruz and Abasto high voltage sites, along the
2,000 km between them, it was considered the implementation of a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system
operating at +/- 500kVcc.
Taking into account the very critical and important energy transmission along such a long electrical corridor, it is
necessary to install a Communication System that can support the transmission of information, with the
minimum requirements of:
Very low transmission Unavailability (NAi) of the HVDC Transmission System
Very high Reliability (Ci) of equipment and devices involved
Stability (Si) and non-alteration of the functioning of the communication system along the time
2.- DESIGN CRITERIA
a) The both required conditions, of low NAi and high Ci, imply equipping the HVDC with a double
Communication System, so that the information traffic to be transmitted between both sites will be redundant.
The criterion is to duplicate messages, signals, orders, etc, in order to send each one through different
Communication Systems that were called:
Sys1-Main System
Sys2-Emergency/Backup System
The above mentioned criterion implies to use duplicated links connected to the equipment and devices that will
be the origin of the information necessary to be transmitted. It means, at least:
Double and independent communication ports in control elements
Double and independent telephone trunks between PABXs
Double and independent hot line telephone connections between operators of both HVDC sites
Double and independent data for protection and control functions between Converter Stations (CSs)
Other information
b) The required condition of having a transmission media stable and permanently available is possible to obtain
by using two separated communication systems, like:
SDH Digital Communication System through fibre optic media
Power Line Carrier with digital access (DPLC)
The following analysis have demonstrated the convenience of that solution, so as to satisfy the above mentioned
Reliability and Availability requirements, for the goal of transmitting all information under a context of nonalteration of functioning, transmission capacity, cost of implementation, etc. That solution is very difficult to
obtain by other technology (QoS objective).
c) Taking into account the control hierarchy, as well as the HVDC Transmission Systems operation and dispatch
philosophies, the links between both sites were defined so as to satisfy the need of the real time operation of the
High Voltage System involved. In order to effectively implement those requirements, the following
communication needs were considered:
Communication for essential information for control and operation of the HVDC system
Communications for maintenance and equivalent functions
Communication for administrative functions
Based on the analysis of the project it was concluded that the above first mentioned item would be transmitted by
both communication systems (SDH and DPLC) in order to have an effectively redundant transmission.
The second and third items would be transmitted only by the SDH communication system due to its enormous
transmission capacity. Details of specific information transmitted will be shown later on Table I.
d) In order to improve the communication robustness the use of a digital communication system was considered.
The mission of a digital Rx is to detect the presence or absence of a waveform, and consequently to decide
whether the transmitted bit is a logical one or zero.
If the Rx receives an eventually corrupted signal, it will compare the received signals against every possible
waveform known by the Rx, and it will be able to restore the original one.
3.-ANNALYSIS OF COMMUNICATION ALTERNATIVES
a) General concepts
a1) It is well known that it is not possible to obtain Availability Ai=100% in each communication system so as to
transmit totally and successfully the information between Tx and Rx terminals.
a2) By contrast, Reliability figures (Ci), that are related to modules/cards that are part of the communication
systems, can be increased as much as possible, by using network redundancy criteria.
Both terms, Ci and Ai, are connected between them, due to the fact that equipment with high Ci figures will
produce communication systems with higher Availability (Ai).
a3) The characteristics of the information to be transmitted will be exposed later on in item 8), which shows that
it is mainly digital. Therefore the use of digital communication systems will be highly convenient.

D2-01 A01

3/11

a4) The use of digital communication systems will allow higher Ai values due to the fact that the information will
be transmitted with a bit error bit BER<10exp-6 (or better). Which means that signal to noise ratio (SNR) must
be high enough for the optimum information exchange (later detailed).
The functioning of communication systems was standardized under the following concept:
System non-availability NAi will happen when bit error rate BER is worse than 10exp-3 for at least 10
consecutive seconds
System non-availability NAi will end when bit error rate BER is better tan 10exp-3 for 10 consecutive
seconds
a5) The action of duplicate the communication system will contribute to the criterion described in item a2)
b) Communication systems comparison
b1) SDH fibre optic digital system can operate in a very steady media, due to:
Full immunity against external interference
Transmission performed within the high voltage system
Minimum amount of intermediate repeaters
All these concepts make the SDH System performance predictability very high, with a minimum NAi-figure, due
to the fact that the only possible event is the module/card failures (NAi due to hard/software failures).
The probability of a failure in the optical media can be ignored, as well as failures in passive devices as they will
be several orders of magnitude lower than in the electronic equipment.
The same thing happens with failures due to external agents, because Tx and Rx will function mainly within the
safe site areas.
In case of using intermediate repeaters (hops of 400km), it is possible to have Ai:99.9999% for each SDH hop. It
will imply:

n5

NAi endto NAi each

end

i1

hop

NAi endendto 5 106

It means to obtain Availability figures of Ai: 99.9995% for the whole SDH system (end-to-end).
It means an annual Unavailability of 2.6 minutes per year, taking into account a unique communication system
(in that case: an optical SDH digital system)
b2) The digital SHF radiolink will function in a more unstable conditions, with high unpredictability and higher
NAi-figures, due to several situations of normal occurrence in a microwave system:
Modules/cards failures (NAi due to hard/software failures)
Fading and/or bad propagation conditions, that can interrupt the transmission (NAi due to media
propagation)
Weather conditions and vandalism acting in an amount of isolated repeaters (NAi due to external
actions), as well as with a lot of external devices (towers, antennas, etc.) in each repeater
Preventive maintenance tasks that it is necessary to do periodically in external devices (antennas realignment, etc.)
The radio link total Unavailability will be:

NAi total NAi hard / soft NAi fading NAi vandalism NAi preventive
failures

mainenance

The use of SHF radiolinks forces the use of repeaters in distances as follow:
D2-01 A01

4/11

30km if 1+0 configuration is used

40-50km if 1+1 configuration is used
Longer distance, if besides 1+1 configuration, space and/or frequency diversity can be used (with the
consequent higher complexity and cost)

Signal power decreases with square of the distance between antennas, but actually, the signal power fall down
more quickly due to obstacles (signal obstruction). In the practice, the power will decrease according to four
times the distance and this is the empiric calculation normally used. When this technology is used in extra-long
link (end-to-end) the performance compromised due to the amount of repeaters to be used, as well as the
exponential growth of failures..
As the length of the high voltage line is around 2,000km, the use of a SHF radiolink will result in:
Order of 40 hops
Ai of each hop of Ai: 99.99% (due to all effects seen before)
This means that the total unavailability of the SHF radiolink to be used for the HVDC System, will be:

n40

NAi endto NAi each

end

i1

hop

NAi endto 4 103

end

It means to obtain Availability figures of Ai: 99.6% for the whole SHF radiolink (end-to-end)
Equivalent to an annual unavailability of 2,100 minutes per year (or greater), taking into account a unique
communication system (in this case: a digital SHF radiolink)
Additionally, it must be mentioned that the distribution of weather events (twisters, atmospheric discharges)
which produce non-availability of the radiolink, will be produced simultaneously with the occurrence of failures
in the HVDC System that the radiolink intends to protect.
It results in a very weak performance for the transmission of the services/applications that are necessary to
exchange (HVDC protection, supervision, control), in comparison with optical SDH systems and digital power
line carrier (independence of occurrence).
b3) The power line carrier with digital access (DPLC) will function in a very stable media, due to:
Acceptable signal to noise ratio (SNR), due to the minimum noise (see detailed assumptions below)
Transmission performed within the high voltage system
Minimum amount of repeaters (hops of around 650km)
DPLC System performance predictability is very high, with a minimum NAi-figures, due to the fact that the only
possible event is the module/card failures (NAi due to hard/software failures)
The probability of failures due to propagation media (the HVDC Line) will be not considered. In similar way
failures in the passive devices will be ignored. Both said failures have a probability of one order of magnitude
lower than the corresponding to the electronic equipment.
Similar things happen with failures due to external agents, because Tx and Rx will function mainly within safe
site areas.
Additionally, a pole-to-pole coupling configuration was considered, taking into account, in that way, the eventual
failure-to-earth on both poles.
In case of using intermediate repeaters (hops of 650 km), it is possible to have Ai:99.999% for each DPLC hop.
It will imply:
D2-01 A01

5/11

n 3

NAi endto NAi each

end

i1

hop

NAi endend to 3105

It means to obtain Availability figures of Ai: 99.997% for the whole DPLC system (end-to-end).
It means an annual Unavailability of 16 minutes per year, taking into account a unique communication system
(in this case: a power line carrier system with digital access)

The following noise considerations in the HVDC System were considered:

It is not expected carrier noise on the DC Line due to adjacent and parallel AC Lines
The actual use of solid state semiconductor devices (light triggered thyristor), as well as the insulatedgate bipolar transistors (IGBT) can introduce high frequency noise from the HVDC Converter that can
cause interference. In order to prevent it, PLC filters must be installed by the manufacturer of the
Converter Station (EC), and it is not subject of this paper.
PLC filters must be a combination of several line traps and capacitors of high value, in order to reduce
the noise to minimum values.
4.- REDUNDANCY
The concept of increasing the Ai of the whole Communication System (duplicated) is based on the integration of
both communication systems (optical SDH and digital Power Line Carrier). Traditionally, the underlying
switching scheme is implemented by hitless switching networks (free of errors). By the contrast, in this project
both communication Systems will simultaneously transmit the same information, based on the concepts
mentioned above (duplicating services/applications device ports, etc.).
Additionally, in order to complement the above mentioned criterion (duplication of communication media
between ends), not all the information needs to be transmitted twice. Consequently, the essential information
will be defined.
Moreover, the use the dynamic assignation of resources (that it will be developed in the item 7e) will contribute
to transmit the minimum essential information (in case of critical conditions). The priorities of the essential
information will be shown in Table I.
Both resources will allow the safe and correct operation of the HVDC System.
Taking into account the above mentioned concepts, the Total Availability for transmission of essential functions,
will have the following unavailability figures:
Ai of SDH System: 99.9995 % >>> NAi : 5x10exp-6
Ai of DPLC System: 99.997% >>> NAi : 3x10exp-5
Consequently, the NAi for transmitting essential functions (through both communication systems) must be:

n2

NAi essential NAi order1010

functions

i 1

It implies to have a practical Ai : 100% for transmitting the essential functions. It means to have an insignificant
annual Unavailability figures, due to the simultaneous action of the two communication systems ( SDH and
DPLC)
5.- INFORMATION TO BE TRANSMITTED
D2-01 A01

6/11

The communication system to be projected must transmit the information required by the operation and control
of the HVDC System. Consequently, the type of information, as well as its characteristics and its operative
parameters and state parameters, must be optimally defined in order to design the communication systems that
will act like its transmission support.
The project has considered that the information to be transmitted for a right functioning of the HVDC system
must be as follow:
Telephone digital (E1) trunk between PABX equipment
Telephone analogue trunk between PABX equipment
Telephone hot lines between operators of Converter Stations (CSs)
Data for control and protection of thyristor valves between CSs
Interconnection between LAN networks
Video-surveillance
Other
The identification and amount of signals and information to be transmitted, as well as the main characteristics of
each one, will be described in Table I. It was discriminated, as follows:
Full information to be transmitted through SDH optical system
Essential information to be transmitted through DPLC system (under normal/fair conditions)
Minimum essential information to be transmitted through DPLC system (under worst/adverse
conditions)
6.- POWER LINE CARRIER CHARACTERISTICS
Despite the fact this paper will develop the communication system redundancy criterion for being used like a
support of HVDC System, we have only focused in the development of the Emergency/Backup communication
system. We will not develop any subject related to the optical SDH communication system (Sys1- Main System)
The following design issues were taken into account during the DPLC project:
a) Configuration of the power line carrier link
The project of the DPLC System was developed like a power line carrier system of maximum performance, so as
to obtain the maximum signal-to-noise ratio SNR for the whole link (between both Tx and Rx ends)
This means to consider the following design criteria:
To use carrier frequency within the RF spectrum but specifically located in its lowest portion (around 20
KHz), in order to obtain the minimum line attenuation that can be possible. It is necessary to consider
that converter noise is strongest at low frequencies
To use a pole-to-pole coupling mode, in order to have minimum loss and maximum adaptation for extralong distances
To use a pole-to-pole coupling mode, in order to take into account eventual pole failures in both poles

To use line traps and coupling capacitors connected to each pole, as well as to have them with high
inductance and capacitance values, in order to match them in accordance to the low frequency of the
channel
To analyze the propagation modes including subjects like: features of the HVDC Line, distance between
conductors, ground resistivity, etc, in order to do a right calculation of Line attenuation.
Free disposal to use all frequencies of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, due to the fact that the existing
power line carrier channels used by HVAC Lines, will be transmitted in a separated high voltage system
totally independent of the HVDC system
Possibility to do analysis and calculation of signal-to-interference (SIR) if it would be necessary to use
some decoupling method between existing PLC and new DPLC channels
To use line traps with narrow-band characteristics, in order to obtain the highest possible Rb within the
usable bandwidth. It means to avoid eventual interference produced by other PLC channels
To analyze the additional line attenuation due to the effect of earth failure affecting each pole of the
HVDC (additional line attenuation)
To analyze the configuration and topology of the Converter Stations (EC), in order to verify the
incidence of the CSs impedance on the line attenuation
Due to the geographic area involved, it was considered the ice effect on the line attenuation but over
partial length of the whole Line (additional line attenuation)
Ice coating over the pole conductors will produce lower additional line attenuation when the lowest
carrier frequency to be used (maximum effect will be above 300kHz)
It was considered neglected the rain effect on the line attenuation
Data load of the DPLC channel
It was considered the propagation study, for two conditions:
* SNR1: for fair conditions of the Line and its devices involved
D2-01 A01

7/11

* SNR2: for worst conditions of the Line as well as devices involved

These calculations have taken into account the following aspects:
* line traps tapping loss and coupling capacitors insertion loss
* balancing transformer insertion loss (due to single pole failures)
* coupling filters insertion loss in order to obtain a minimum return loss of 12dB with the particular
coupling capacitors to be installed, as well as for the BW to be used
* line attenuation under fair conditions
* additional attenuation due to ice
* additional attenuation due to pole to earth
* transmission power of equipment to be used
* maximum BW to be used
Analysis of transmission capacity (Cd) of the DPLC equipment, taken into account the obtained figures
under abnormal/worst conditions (SNR2) in comparison with the minimum essential information load
to be transmitted (see Table I)
Analysis of transmission capacity (Cd) of the DPLC equipment, taken into account the obtained figures
under normal/fair conditions (SNR1) in comparison with the essential information load to be
transmitted (see Table I)

b) SNR values
The considered design criteria were as follow:
The worst condition of the functioning of the DPLC link will imply SNR2 with order of 26dB. It means
to have a transmission capacity Cd with order of 96kbps (BER: 10exp-6; BWd: 32kHz)
The normal condition of functioning will imply SNR1 with order of 39dB. It means to have a
transmission capacity Cd with order of 198kbps (BER: 10exp-6; BWd: 32kHz)
During worst conditions the DPLC link must not interrupt neither its functioning nor introduce
synchronization loss between Tx and Rx
The power of the DPLC equipment must be of maximum level (PEP: 49dBm; PAPR: 39dBm)
To use an only DPLC channel and consequently PEPd=PEP
7.- CHANNEL CHARACTERISTICS
a) Transmission capacity
The two main characteristics taken into account for the DPLC channel, have been:
Gross capacity of transmission (Cd)
Channel gross bandwidth in each transmission way (Tx; Rx)
It introduces the parameter of Efficiency of the Channel:

bps Cd
BW
d
Hz

E ff

The design criterion was to obtain the possible minimum Efficiency of the DPLC channel in order to obtain
the highest System Availability during the worst condition for the media transmission (above described).
The criterion of minimum Efficiency was obtained in the HVDC System, due to:
The concept of transmission of minimum essential information (low Cd) taken into account that the
DPLC will be an emergency/backup system
Disposal of the RF spectrum in order to a free location of the DPLC channels, as well as by using the
required BWd
As a result, the project has specified what Cd-SNR performance must be, for the particular channel BWd
Taking into account that the DPLC channel must be adapted to adverse conditions of the media, it can be done
increasing the inter-symbol distance and consequently reducing the Efficiency of the channel.
As BWd will be established, the Efficiency will be only reduced due to the reduction of the transmission capacity
Cd.
The DPLC System will function as an Emergency/backup system, and consequently it will transmit essential
services. That information will be the necessary for operation and control of the HVDC system, and must be
permanently maintained.
As consequence of the above concept, the following criterion was applied to the DPLC System:
To repeat the essential information that will be transmitted by the Main SDH Sys #1 (information
detailed above)
To use the fallback (FB) function in the DPLC equipment, in order to maintain the exclusive
transmission of priority services, even in case of adverse conditions (subject to be developed in item 7e)

D2-01 A01

8/11

To restore automatically the service transmission by the fallforward (FF) function, when the normal
(fair) conditions will be restored (to be developed in item 7e)

Due to the concepts above mentioned, the maximum data rate to be transmitted in the worst conditions was
assumed in 77 kbps (net capacity). The additional data for multiplexing and synchronization functions, will be
aggregated to the above mentioned net capacity.
b) Bandwidth
The Shannon theorem shows the information capacity limitation, in order to be used in a digital transmission
system, as follows:

BWd Hz

I
ld (1 SNR )

(SNR at the receiver input)

It shows the theoretical bandwidth for the transmission of a particular amount of data.
b1) channel under abnormal/worst condition

SNR wc 26dB

Cd 128kbps

BW wc

128kbps
ld (1 398)

Minimum theoretical bandwidth: 15kHz

It was adopted the following bandwidth for the DPLC system: BWd: 32kHz

(for BER: 10exp-6)

b2) channel under normal/fair condition

SNR fc 39dB

BWd 32kHz

C d 32 KHz ld (1 8 10 3 )

Available theoretical capacity: Cd = 400kbps

Operative capacity of the DPLC system: Cd = 198 kbps

(for BER: 10exp-6)

Then, it was concluded a requirement of BWd = 32 kHz for each transmission way in order to guarantee 96kbps
under worst condition, as well as 198kbps under normal condition.
The above mentioned transmission capacity is exclusively referred to useful data information, neither channel
backup nor auxiliary signals that could be necessary to be transmitted, are considered.
The Shannon theorem refers to bits according to the information theory, and it is not included the necessary bits
due to the administration of error correction.
All these concepts were taken into account in the equipment capacity, as it was mentioned in the last paragraph
of item 7a)
b3) noise
It has taken into account the same BWd (32kHz) for signal as well as for noise calculations, as follow:
N (dBm) = N (4kHz) + 10 log (BWd/4kHz) + 7dB
The HVDC Converter Station (CS) must taken into account the installation of the corresponding high frequency
filters (detailed in item 3b3 last paragraph) in order to eliminate other source of noise. The necessary filters are
not part of this paper and it is assumed to be taken into account by Others.
c) Transmission data versus system latency
Taking into account the SNR figures, as well as the BW concluded, the manner to have a better data transmission
would be to transmit more complex symbols. By this method it is possible to reduce the inter-symbol distance,
and consequently use error correction methods.
Due to this, the practical implementations has shown a greater latency when data transmission is closed to
Shannon limit
Each symbol can convey the information corresponding to one bit (in a binary system) or more that one bit (in a
multilevel system):
D2-01 A01

9/11

Rs (symbol rate) (symb/sec; bauds) = Rb (transmission rate) (bps) / n (number of bit per symbol)
If we can be tempted to used large values of n in order to reduce the BW of the channel, it must take into account
that the system complexity will be increased in comparison with a binary system.
d) Receiver sensitivity
Another main parameter taken into account, in the planning of the DPLC link, was the sensitivity of the Rx
channel, in order to obtain a stable operation of the channel (objective of QoS that was mentioned in item 2). It
must to guarantee:
Permanent synchronization
Bit error ratio equal or better than the required (BER:10exp-6)
It has guided to the specification of minimum input power level (Sdmin) that will be required by DPLC
equipment, for a maximum error rate BERmax
The limits of operation of the DPLC channel will be the sensitivity of the receiver Rx. It will be affected by the
attenuation of the emission level of the transmitter Tx along the whole HVDC Line, as well as by the noise of
certain level. These subjects can produce the interruption of the data transmission in the channel (situation that is
necessary to avoid)
The receiver sensitivity will depend of the Efficiency (Eff) of the DPLC channel, as well as the frequency plan.
The first assumption for the DPLC system under consideration was to use non-adjacent bands in order to locate
them in the RF spectrum. It means a frequency spacing between Tx and Rx as follows:
n * BW (where n >= 2)
In accordance to IEC 60663, it was decided to separate the bands as follows: n* BW: 2x32kHz : 64kHz.
It means to use a portion of the RF spectrum from 20 to 148kHz
Despite the above considered criterion, the detailed project can analyse to use adjacent bands so as to reduce the
RF spectrum to be used.
It was considered that the total attenuation that must be taken into account in the project will be lower than the
maximum attenuation allowed by the manufacturer of the DPLC equipment. This criterion was an equivalent
concept of margin of reserve in a radiolink.
This consideration must assure the threshold of receiver sensitivity for permanent and/or transients situations, as
well as to avoid DPLC link interruptions due to re-synchronization actions.
The maximum link attenuation will be:

a L max PAPR S d min BER max

(where PAPR is the peak to average power ratio that depends on the type of digital modulation)
In the specific project, it means:

a L max 39dBm 30dBm 69dB

Additionally, the project has required that the manufacturers can guarantee the values of sensitivity Sd of the Rx
terminal of the offered equipment, for the following conditions:
Bit error ratio BER of 10exp-6 and 10exp-3
DPLC emitter Tx operating under conditions of normal modulation
Different combinations of BWd and Cd
It will permit a complete and exhaustive analysis of all functioning conditions during the stage of evaluation of
several manufacturer proposals
e) Bit error ratio
If the desired transmission rate (Rb) is lower than the channel capacity Cd, it is possible to transmit the
information with a probability of errors with p(e) = 0. That means, theoretically, that errors will not be produced
even in the presence of noise.
As it was established above, the transmission capacity of the DPLC channel, can be between:
Cd (worst case) = 96 kbps
Cd (normal conditions) = 198 kbps
The required transmission rate that is shown in Table I is:
Rb (minimum essential information) = 77 kbps
Rb (essential information) =141 kbps
The p(e) = 0 will never be achieved under real conditions, but it will be lower enough.
D2-01 A01

10/11

This situation is complemented by the following assumptions:

Maximum bit error ratio that can be accepted: BERmax >= 10exp-3
Minimum bit error ratio: BERmin =< 10exp-6
Note: the first condition is only applicable to the function of compression of voice, due to the fact it is more
tolerant to the error ratio
Additionally, it was required the Cd/SNR characteristic of the DPLC channel for BER=10exp-3, as well as the
dSNR values. This last value implies the difference between the SNR for BER=10exp-6 and the SNR for
BER=10exp-3 (in accordance to Cigre recommendation)
f) Dynamic assignation of resources
The DPLC equipment will use the digital multicarrier modulation (MCM), as well as the Trellis codification, in
order to permit the digital conversion to line signals. It means the transmission will be resistant to eventual
interferences that can be produced in the Line, as well as against level and phase distortion in the channel.
All this considerations will carry to obtain a maximum Ci and the consequent high Ai values (goal of the
project).
Despite the fact the before mentioned considerations, the alternatives of interference are minimized in the HVDC
System due to the above mentioned concepts. All these concepts will allow a greater freedom in order to evaluate,
during proposal stage, several manufacturers using different technologies.
Following with the concept of minimum Non-availability required to the DPLC system, it has decided not to use
the technology of echo-cancellation by the manufactures.
Taking into account the project criteria (item 7a) the transmission speed must be adjusted to the conditions of the
DPLC channel, in order to obtain maximum Ai. As consequence, during line adverse conditions, the speed of
data transmission will fall down by the action of the fall-back function (FB) to a lower speed, in order to re-store
the service quality QoS at the new speed.
The equipment must give an alarm when the error ratio BER > 10exp-3, and immediately must begin to act the
fall-back FB function
When the abnormal conditions disappear, the DPLC equipment must allow the action of the fall-forward FF
function, restoring the original speed of data transmission.
The action of both functions, FF and FF, must be done without interruptions in the DPLC equipment.
All services that were be connected to the multiplexing area of the DPLC equipment must have the option of
following the FB and FF procedures. By this FB-FF functions must be possible to adequate the transmission of
each specific service in an independently manner.
During the configuration stage of the start-up period, the assignation of services must be possible to select by
means of:
To reduce the speed of each particular service
To disconnect some particular service (only during the abnormal period)
The project takes into account that the sum of service inputs in the multiplexing area will be lower than the total
Cd (in this case Cd = 77 kbps)
8.- SIGNALS
The DPLC system will transmit a digital content originated in:
Permanent digital signals (SCADA data, CS`s valves control)
Digital compressed voice signals (PABX trunk; telephone hot-line)
Other
The whole digital signals to be transmitted will be linked between serial interfaces like V.24, V.11, G.703, V.35,
etc. It implies:
Services data speed between 9,600 bps and 10/100Mbps: through Sys #1 (Main SDH system)
Services data speed between 9,600 bps and 64 kbps: through Sys #2 (Emergency/backup DPLC system)
Within the DPLC system, the voice signals will be converted through compression algorithms to the minimum
speed that could be compatible with speech intelligibility. Due to this concept it was considered 6,300 bps as a
minimum value.
The signals distribution in each Communication System was considered as the Table I that follow:
D2-01 A01

11/11

Signals

Interface

Speed
(kbps)

Digital telephone trunks

Analogue telephone trunks
Telephone hot-line connection
Data of control between CSs
Data of control between CSs
Data of control between CSs
Video-surveillance
LAN networks Ethernet 10/100
Mbps
Total Capacity
(Eventual margin)

G.703
4 Wires+E&M
4 Wires
V.35
V.35
V.35
G.703
Ethernet

2048
6,3
6,3
64
64
64
2048
10,00/
100,000

System #1
SDH Main
System
si
si
si
si
si
si
si
si

System #2
DPLC System
(essential functions)
no
si
si
si
si
no
no
no

Dynamic assignation
(minimum essential
functions)
no
si
si
Si
no
no
no
no

Cd > 100Mbps

Cd: 141 kbps

(57 kbps)

Cd: 77 kbps
(19 kbps)

10.- CONCLUSSIONS
It is expected that the design procedures as well as the used concepts will permit to obtain an emergency/backup
power line carrier communication system of high performance and high Availability figures. They have been
obtained taking into account the adopted worst conditions for all stages of the project.
The non-interruption of the DPLC channel even during adverse conditions, will assure a highly reliable
functioning of the HVDC System.
Additionally, the economic investment will be much more reduced in comparison with a SHF radiolink acting as
a backup system.
The combination of an optical SDH main system with a power line carrier with digital access like a
emergency/backup system, will be an optimal solution of compromise, for being used for the safe and reliable
operation of the high voltage transmission system.
11.- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Guide on power line carrier, Cigre WG04-SC35
Planning of power line carrier systems, EIC 60663
Guide for planning of power utility digital communication networks, Cigre WG02-SC35
Guia de diseo sistemas de comunicaciones por onda portadora, ENRE-Res558-Argentina
ITU-T Recommendations
Report on digital power line carrier, Cigre WG35.09, Annex B and D
Digital power line carrier equipment, Cigre Task Force SCTF D2.08

D2-01 A01

12/11