International council on large electric systems

2011 Colloquium
STUDY COMMITTEE D2
Information Systems and Telecommunication

D2-01 A02
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR LONG HAUL LINKS ON 500KV HVAC
SYSTEMS
ARIEL CAMPOS
Transener SA

ariel.campos@transx.com.ar

CARLOS DI PALMA
Tranelsa Consultora SA

eett@tranelsa.com

MAIN GOALS TO BE OBTAINED (part 1)

The Argentinas 500kV Systems has long HVAC Lines involving distances from 300km to 500km
between SubStations
The main objective is to avoid the middle equipment isolated renegeration optical repeaters in
order to eliminate the non-avaible effects (Nai) produced by them (non-Availabilty effects due to
natural disasters, vandalism acts, and so on)
The operation and control of those HVAC Lines implies to have enough capacity for transmitting
the whole information as follows:
a) Current information to be transmitted along 500kV HVAC Lines:
Data transmission for SCADA system (control function)
Data transmission for Differential Protection (main protection function)
Trip transmission from Teleprotection systems (backup protection function)
Data transmission between PLC devices of the Generating/Demand automatic
Disconnecting system (stabilizing resources)
LAN networks links for Generating/Demand automatic disconnection system
Digital trunk links between PABXs telephony exchanges (operation function)
LAN networks links for corporative functions (administrative function)
Protection Systems remote management
Communication Systems remote management

MAIN GOALS TO BE OBTAINED (part 2)

. the whole information as follows:

b) Future information to be transmitted:
SCADA system for transmission over IP or Ethernet
Data transmission for SCADA system between SS and Control Centers
according to new IEC 61850 standard
Trip and data transmission for Teleprotection system between SS according
to new IEC 61850 standard
VoIP and videoconference functions
Video monitoring of electrical equipment located in remote substations
Video surveillance of both buildings and shelters where communication
equipment are allocated
Optical cables` remote management

Consequently, the main goals expected are:

high bit transmission rates
long distance links without repeaters (or minimizing the amount of them)
high Availability figures (throught redundant schemes)

REDUNDANCY OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

REDUNDANT SCHEMES

500kV System has normally used a double and independent SDH communication systems
(SDH1; SDH2) operating in STM-1 hierarchy.
Main features:
*independent and separate SDH equipment
*double procesor and power supply modules in each SDH node
*different pair of optical fibres for each SDH system (unique OPGW cable)

500kV System has use a single and independent PDH radiolink operating in SHF band

500kV System has a whole communication system formed by a n+1 redundant scheme for
transmitting the information that was detailed before (SDH#1; SDH#2; SHF radiolink)

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARRANGEMENTS

OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Optical communication systems without repeaters (up to 300km)

Optical communication systems with optical repeaters (greater than 400km)

CONSTITUTION OF THE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

SDH nodes operating in STM-1 hierarchy

DWDM techniques in order to enlarge the digital transmission to long haul links

Additional optical devices such as:

*Erbium doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) booster>> emission side
*Raman amplifier >> reception side
*Preamplifier (based on EDFA device) >> reception side
*Transponders (converting the wavelength of the SDH node to a wavelength located
in ITU-T G.694.1 grid; C-band)
*Current transmission hierarchy of 0,155Gbps and future upgrade up to 2,5Gbps

FEATURES OF THE OPTICAL DEVICES (part 1)

EDFA AMPLIFIERS

Input power from -10 dBm to +10 dBm

Output power up to +21 dBm (functioning like a booster)

Gains up to +34dB

Wavelength operation range from 1529 nm to 1565 nm

RAMAN AMPLIFIERS

They have gain between 5 dB to 10 dB

Input optical power between -50 dBm and -24 dBm

Output optical power between -45 dBm and -19 dBm

Wavelength operation range from 1529nm to 1565 nm

PREAMPLIFIERS

Based on devices EDFA that operates with one Laser pump

They have a gain of 35 dB

Sensitivity (@STM-1; BER: 10exp-10): up to -45 dBm

Output power of +14 dBm

Wavelength operation range from 1529nm to 1565 nm

FEATURES OF THE OPTICAL DEVICES (part 2)

TRANSPONDERS

Input wavelength range: 1260-1600 nm

Output wavelength: according ITU-T G.694.1 grid
Output optical power: up to + 10dB
Particularly:
*emission side: to allow the conversion of input optical signals (1260-1600 nm) to output
optical signals of the C-band of the DWDM wavelength grid of ITU-T
*reception side: to allow the conversion of DWDM wavelength (1260-1600 nm) to an
output optical signal of 1310 nm
*transparent to communication protocols to be used
*transmission hierarchy from 0,155Gbps to 2,5 Gbps
*dual bidirectional optical channels

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OPTICAL CABLES (part 1)

FACTORS NECESSARY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

A) INTRINSEC FACTORS (scattering and absorption)
a1) to select optical cables manufactured with high quality fiber optics, so as to assure low dispersion
features
a2) to select optical cables with fiber optics whose attenuation factor (dB/km) will be as low as 0,20
dB/km or less
a3) to do the optical budget considering 0,30 dB/km (following the criterion of ITU-T G.957
Annex A-Fig A.1), in order to take into account the features of the installed fiber
a4) to use zero peak water fibers (ZWP-SM) according to ITU-T G.652/D so as to increase the range of
useful wavelengths (1280-1625 nm; free of OH ions)
a5) to take into account the polarization mode dispersion (PMD) of the fibers included in the optical
cable. Typically, PMD = 0,07 ps/km is measured during the factory acceptance tests
a6) the causes of birefringence are:
*due to design factors (i.e. core stress, cladding eccentricity, elliptical fiber design)
*due to external factors (i.e. fiber twist, fiber stress, fiber bend)
Consequently, it is necessary to measure the PMD values during the FAT process, as well as to check
it during the commissioning tests

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OPTICAL CABLES (part 2)

FACTORS NECESSARY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

B) EXTRINSIC FACTORS
b1) macro-bending

It is necessary a very precise control about:

*the installation process itself
*use of qualified subcontractors (specialized on optical cables tasks)
*the parameters involved in the process (pulling stress, bending pulley, etc)
*utilization of special devices for automatic control of eventual wrong process
*permanent supervision during the installation process
*involved personnel certified by optical cable manufacturer and/or recognized authorities
b2) micro-bending

to avoid pressure over the fibers themselves, because it can produce effects unable to be seen,
but that can affect the development of the fiber optics by introducing non-perceptible
micro-bending into them.

it must consider some previsions in the temperature range where the optical cable will operate
(especially for low temperature environment)

it is necessary to project carefully the appropriated over length of fibers into the optical cable,
so as to avoid localized micro-bending effects produced by straightening and/or contractions of
the optical fibers

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OPTICAL CABLES (part 3)

FACTORS NECESSARY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

B)

EXTRINSIC FACTORS (following)

b3) splices

to take precautions during the optical fiber splicing process, as follow:

*to do the fusion splices by means of automatic instruments of well-known manufacturer
*to do the splicing tasks into a vehicle/trailer with enough grade of sealing
*to use certified splicing personnel (certification emitted by national authorities and/or the
optical cable manufacturer)
*to use a splicing procedure handbook/guide (written by the optical cable manufacturer)
*to do a permanent supervision by a representative of the optical cable manufacturer
*to do measurement of each spliced optical fiber, per each stretch of OPGW that is
installed
*to protocol each fiber optic per pair of two stretch of OPGW cables
*to protocol each fiber optic between optical distribution frames (end-to-end
measurement)
b4) fiber optic characterization

An additional topic to mention for future applications, is the following question:

which could be the measures to do to fibers optics so as to know the potential transmission
capacity of the OPGW cables?

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SPECIAL REPORT S QUESTIONS (part 1)

Q1.1-1. Please, try to detail what real / effective results were obtained in the installations that were
done. Further explain if the projects have taken into account future data transmission
according to new IEC61850 standard applied to teleprotection transmission between SSEE.
Further explain if the projects have taken into account future data transmission according to
the new IEC 61850 standard applied to SCADA transmission between SSEE and Control
Centre.
ANSWER
In the link-Monte Quemado Cobos was designed for optical length of 298km with approximately
5dB optical margin, however, the end of the link distance was 305km, and the optical range was
fulfilled properly supported by the rate meter Bit Error for STM-1.
The project is based on a versatile platform that allows 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet interfaces
available with dedicated bandwidth and the possibility of VLAN configuration.
The current link each substation and the control center has the option of having Ethernet channel
while the control and protection systems every local substation is moving to an architecture
next to IEC61850. For the connection between substations are used gateways.

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SPECIAL REPORT S QUESTIONS (part 2)

Q1.1-2. Detail the longest link that was implemented by the Utility Company, as well as the BER
figures that were obtained in the longest link (end-to-end).
ANSWER
The optical link more longer than has been implemented without repeating was the link CobosMonte Quemado.
The attenuation values estimated total link in the project were of 64.2 db, while the actual average
measurement of the optical link was 67dB.
The link was measured with bit error meter (JDSU ANT-5) during the commissioning of the two SDH
systems (System 1 and System 2).
Were adjusted optical transmission equipment according to the values estimated in the project and
BER measurements performed yielding satisfactory results.
Later, it was by varying the transmission power for the purpose of verifying that the optical link
margin was available, while simultaneously measuring gauges SDH system bit error rate.
With variations in output power and BER measurements correctly found the availability of optical
margin for error free SDH system.

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SPECIAL REPORT S QUESTIONS (part 2)

Q1.1-3. Do you consider the possibility of using semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)
devices as
an alternative to EDFA devices? Could you mention pros and cons of such
alternative?
Please, give the opinion about the possibility of using optical amplifier with
Laser remote
pump
ANSWER
It was not discussed so far. As we observe the following points immediately to solve:
1. DWDM channel intermodulation
2. Higher noise figure due to high losses of SOA-fiber coupling
3. Lower output power compared to EDFAs
It is a resource to be used in order to further extend link distances outside equipment
including transformer stations. An alternative being considered.

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