Utility Communications

DLTC - Power Line Carrier Line Traps

2 | DLTC
Transmitting information along high-voltage lines
(PLC) has been one of the main and certainly the
most economic means of communication in elec-
tric power systems for more than 50 years.
The purpose of PLC line traps:
Provision of defined high volt age line impedances regard-
less of the configuration of the primary system switchgear.
Prevention of signal losses due to propagation into other
lines.
Attenuation of RF signals from other parts of the power
system, thus permitting multiple use of the same frequency
bands.
PLC line traps are connected in series with the high-
tension lines and must therefore be rated for the maximum
continuous load current and be able to withstand the
maximum fault current at the place of installation. DLTC line
traps fulfill all the RF re quire ments as well as all the power
system requirements of the latest IEC recommendations.
Principal advantages of PLC line traps type DLTC
Low volume and small diameter due to multilayer tech-
niques. Hence less wind resistance and simpler mainte-
nance of spacing between conductors.
Open construction and therefore better cooling. No danger
of local hot-spots or cracking of insulating material.
Excellent RF characteristics with high Q and low stray
capacitance. Higher resonant frequencies than those used
for PLC transmission.
All versions available for either pedestal mounting or sus-
pended installation.
Wide choice of pedestals suitable for mounting on insulator
posts, coupling capacitors and instrument trans formers.
Provision for nearly every type of conductor terminal.
Solid construction permits high mechanical loads on termi-
nals.
High voltage withstand of tuning units ensures high
reliability. Tuning units are tuned for either broadband
blocking or damped single frequency blocking.
Transient overvoltage protection by metal oxide arresters
with better characteristics than arc-gap arresters. Only
arresters with a rating of 10 kA are used.
Integrates optimally in the overall PLC network, because
ABB not only supplies the line traps, but everything else for
PLC systems.
Quality assurance according to ISO 9001.
Modern production techniques ensure consistent product
quality.
Backed by 50 years of experience in the design, manu -
facture and operation of PLC line traps.
ABB line traps type DLTC a reliable component for PLC
communication
Transport of Electrical Energy
Transmission of Data, Speech and Protection Signals
HV Line
Impedance Z
L
Substation
PLC
Terminal
PLC
Terminal
Substation Line Trap
Coupling Device
MCD 80
Coupling Device
MCD 80
Coupling Capacitor
or CVT
Coupling Capacitor
or CVT
Line Trap
Z
1 Z
1
DLTC | 3
Continuous rated current
I
N
(A)
Coordination Standard Steady state component of
short-time current I
kN
(kA)
Asymmetric peak of short-
time current I
km
(kA)
Inductance
L
tN
(mH)
400 IEC 1
IEC 2
10
16
25.5
41
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
630 IEC 1
IEC 2
16
20
41
51
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
800 IEC 1
IEC 2
20
25
51
64
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
1000 IEC 1
IEC 2
25
31.5
64
80.5
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
1250 IEC 1
IEC 2
31.5
40
80.5
102
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
1600 IEC 1
IEC 2
40
50
102
128
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
2000 IEC 1
IEC 2
40
50
102
128
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
2500 IEC 1
IEC 2
40
50
102
128
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
3150 IEC 1
IEC 2
40
50
102
128
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
4000 IEC 1
IEC 2
63
80
161
204
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
0.1 0.2 0.315 0.5 1.0 2.0
ABB line traps a wide range of standard production DLTC ty-
pes
DLTC standard protection range (other types available on request)
4 | DLTC
Construction of a PLC line trap
PLC line traps comprise 3 com ponents: the main coil, a
surge arrester and a tuning unit.
Main coil
The construction of the DLTC line traps is based on the
former series TLJO and DLTA. Well-proven tech niques
and materials have been retained and modified to satisfy
todays per for m ance requirements. DLTC line traps conform
to the latest IEC recommendations.
The coil conductor is made of square sec tion aluminium
and the turns are spaced by fiberglass spacer rods.
There is no insulation around the con ductor and therefore
no problems can arise due to local hot-spots or cracks in
the insulation. This open-type construction provides for
excellent cooling by the surrounding air.
This method of construction achieves a good RF cha-
racteristic with a high Q, low stray capacitance and a high
re sonant frequency of the coil itself.
The entire main coil is impregnated with a two-component
epoxy resin of known good outdoor performance.
Depending on the rated current and rated inductance, the
main coil is wound with either one or several layers.
The same fiberglass spacer used for the turns separates
the layers of multiple-layer line traps apart. The multiple-
layer winding technique enables extremely compact and
robust line traps with small diameter and low height to be
manufactured.
The spider supports in the ends of the coils are held toge-
ther by the fiberglass spacer rods.
To achieve a reliable corrosion-proof connection, the HV
terminals are weld ed directly to the ends of the wind ing.
Generally, vertical flat terminals with 4 or 9 holes are fitted,
but round or horizontal flat terminals can be weld ed to the
spiders on request. To avoid additional thermal and mecha-
nical stress in the event of a power system fault, no current
is conducted by the spiders.
Because of their low weight, DLTC coils can be mounted
on coupling capacitors or capacitive voltage trans formers.
They can also be mounted on insulator posts or simply
suspended.
All coils are equipped with lifting eyes on both sides. In
addition to a ped es tal, a bird barrier and the corona shield
needed at the higher power system voltages can also be
attached to the spiders.
The tuning unit and the surge arrester are mounted inside
the main coil.
ABB line traps design based on more than 50 years of
experience
DLTC | 5
ABB surge arresters
ABB line traps are equipped with a modern surge arrester
which does not have a spark-gap.
Two alternative surge arresters are available for protecting
PLC line traps type DLTC.
The small- and medium-size line traps are protected by
standard ABB station arresters type Polim.
Large line traps are equipped with specially designed surge
ar resters for extremly high electromagnetic fields. They em-
ploy the same non-linear metal oxide varistors (MO arres-
ter) that are used in the ABB station arresters.
The main advantages of the MO surge arresters are:
High surge suppression capacity
Fast response to the high-rise tran sient surges which
typically occur when isolators across line traps are opera-
ted
Low, stable level of protection
The inherent leakage capacitance of the MO surge arrester
is taken into account when designing the tuning unit. ABB
MO surge ar rest ers are especially designed for operation in
the strong electromagnetic fields which prevail inside PLC
line traps. In particular they do not contain any unnecessary
metal parts in which the magnetic field would induce eddy
currents and cause an inadmis sible temper ature rise. The
modification of the MO surge arresters to suit the operating
conditions of PLC line traps was only possible because
ABB also manu fac tures this plant equipment and is fully
familiar with the problems which arise in practice. The surge
arresters used with DLTC line traps have a rated current of
10 kA.
ABB surge arresters provide better protection
U
2
U
3
U
1
U/U
3
10
4
0
0.5
1.0
10
2
10
0
10
2
10
4
10
6
A
I
8/20 s
AC (50/60 Hz)
U
1
= Voltage across
the line trap
at the con-
tinuous current
U
2
= Voltage across
the line trap at
the rated short-
time current
U
3
= Protection level
of the surge
arrester at a
test current of
10 kA, 8/20 s
8
4
1
2
5
8
9
6
3
7 7
Typical resistance characteristic of a metal oxide surge arrester
1 Main coil
2 Tuning device
3 Protective devices
4 Corona caps (depending on system voltage)
5 Corona rings (depending on system voltage)
6 Bird barriers (option)
7 Terminal
8 Lifting eye
9 Pedestal (option)
Tuning unit
The tuning unit is connected in parallel with the main coil and
the surge arrester. It provides a defined impedance or block-
ing resistance in the frequency band prescribed for the PLC
channel. The tuned circuit is usually of the dual-circuit broad-
band type. This solution has proved to produce the best
results in the majority of cases.
Many years of successful operation have confirmed that the
bandwidth obtained for a given main coil im pedance and tran-
sient over-voltage withstand is an optimum. Special attention
has always been paid to the proper insulation coordination
between the main coil, tuning unit and surge arrester.
6 | DLTC
Especially developed tuning units guarantee the correct
blocking bandwidth
R
b

f
1R

f
1
300 250 200 150
Frequency [kHz]
B
l
o
c
k
i
n
g

i
m
p
e
d
a
n
c
e
,

r
e
s
i
s
t
a
n
c
e

[

]
100 50 0
0
200
400
600
800
1000
Z
b
rated value
A
t

f
2
300 250 200 150
Frequency [kHz]
T
a
p
p
i
n
g

l
o
s
s

[
d
B
]
100 50 0
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
A
tR

f
2R
rated value
A
L1
C1
C2 R2
TD
L2
A = Protective device
L1 = Main coil of line trap
TD = Tuning device
C1, C2, L2, R2 = Tuning device elements
Equivalent circuit
Z
b
= Blocking impedance
R
b
= Blocking resistance
A
t
= Tapping loss based on blocking
impedance
A
tR
= Tapping loss based on blocking
resistance
Rated value of A
tR
:
2.6 dB according to IEC 60353
R
b

f
1R

f
1
250 200 150
Frequency [kHz]
B
l
o
c
k
i
n
g

i
m
p
e
d
a
n
c
e
,

r
e
s
i
s
t
a
n
c
e

[

]
100 50 0
250 200 150 100 50 0
0
200
400
600
800
1200
1000
Z
b
A
t
A
tR

f
2

f
2R
Frequency [kHz]
T
a
p
p
i
n
g

l
o
s
s

[
d
B
]
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
rated
value
rated value
A = Protective device
L = Main coil of line trap
TD = Tuning device
C, R = Tuning device elements
Equivalent circuit
A
L
C R
TD
Z
b
= Blocking impedance
R
b
= Blocking resistance
A
t
= Tapping loss based on blocking
impedance
A
tR
= Tapping loss based on blocking
resistance
Rated value of A
tR
:
2.6 dB according to IEC 60353
Frequency response of a broadband tuned line trap
Frequency response of a single frequency tuned line trap
DLTC | 7
Standard values for the blocking resist ance of line traps in
over head lines are 400 for bundle conductors and 600
for single conductors. The curves on the right show the
blocking bands which can be achieved with broad band line
traps for different values of inductance. Detailed frequency
tables are available for both methods of line trap tuning and
other values of blocking re sistance.
Alternatively, the line trap can be tuned as a damped single
frequency filter. The main characteristic of this type of tun-
ing is its excellent with stand to transient overvoltages.
Extensive tests in outdoor switchyards and GIS installations
have demonstrated that a large number of transients with
extremely short rise times are generated when an isolator
across a PLC line trap is operated.
These tests supported by computer simulations verified
that DLTC line traps with a damped single frequency
blocking characteristic withstand such stresses better than
broad band line traps. Damped single frequency line traps
are therefore re commended for power system volt ages from
500 kV upwards and in systems with frequent switching
operations. The blocking bandwidth of a damped single
fre quency line trap for a given main coil inductance is nar-
rower than that of a broadband line trap.
500
400
300
200
100
0
0 50 100
Lower band limit [kHz]
U
p
p
e
r

b
a
n
d

l
i
m
i
t

[
k
H
z
]
150 200
Applies for blocking
resistance R
b
> 400
2.0 mH
1.0 mH 0.2 mH
0.5 mH
0.315 mH
500
400
300
200
100
0
Lower band limit [kHz]
U
p
p
e
r

b
a
n
d

l
i
m
i
t

[
k
H
z
]
50 0 100 150 200 250
0.2 mH
Applies for blocking
resistance R
b
> 600
0.315 mH 0.5 mH 1.0 mH 2.0 mH
The line traps conform to the latest international recommenda-
tions
The blocking bandwidth of line traps with 0.2 mH, 0.35 mH
and 0.5 mH can be tuned in a frequency range of up to 1000
kHz.
For line traps with 1.0 mH and 2.0 mH, when intended for use
above 500 kHz, it has to be clarified with the manufacturer
first, whether the selected type is suitable for the required
application.
Band limits of broadband line traps type DLTC
Mounting PLC line traps
Suspended
The line traps have a lug on the upper spider for this kind of
installation. A lug on the bottom enables the line traps to be
anchored. Multiple suspension points can also be provided.
Standing
Small- and medium-size line traps can be equipped with a
pedestal of non-magnetic material for mounting on coupling
capacitors, capaci tive voltage transformers or insulator posts.
Pedestals for mounting on 3 or 4 in sulator posts are available
for large line traps or medium-size line traps exposed to high
mechanical stresses (high winds or earthquakes).
Connections
The standard versions of the DLTC line traps are supplied with
vertical aluminium flat terminals.
The arrangement of the terminals permits the conductors to
be routed either vertically or horizontally when using standard
clamps. Other types of terminal (e. g. round, horizontal or
double) or alternative methods of connection are available on
request.
1
K
H
A

-

0
0
0

5
5
8

-

S
E
N

-

0
3
.
1
1

-

P
r
i
n
t
e
d

i
n

S
w
i
t
z
e
r
l
a
n
d

A
B
B

S
w
i
t
z
e
r
l
a
n
d

L
t
d
,

M
a
r
c
h

2
0
1
1
.

T
h
e

r
i
g
h
t

t
o

m
o
d
i
f
c
a
t
i
o
n
s

o
r

d
e
v
i
a
t
i
o
n
s

d
u
e

t
o

t
e
c
h
n
i
c
a
l

p
r
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s

i
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.
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