Marc Anthony Mannah

Application of Power Line Communication for Data Transmission Over PWM Network

In industrial applications, a feedback loop is used in order to transmit control and diagnostic informations from the motor back to the inverter. The implementation of such feedback loop requires the use of extra cabling between both sides and that may have length exceeding few hundred meters. In this paper, the motor feeder cable is used for data transmission instead of the separated extra cable by using the power line communication (PLC) technology. However, beside the fact that feeder cables are not designed for data transmission, they are also polluted by the inverters outcome. Therefore, PLC modems developed for domestic applications may not be suitable. The aim of this study is to underline the possibility of communicating in such an environment. Limitations and difficulties that obstruct transmission are revealed. Also, possible solutions are discussed such as the use of a pulsewidth modulation filter in mean to overcome those limitations.

Effect of the Power Cable on Data Transmission Over a Pulsewidth-Modulated Network

Power line communication (PLC) technology has proved itself in the last decade as an interesting solution for data transmission and communication in domestic application. Lately, this technology has been considered as a potential solution for monitoring and diagnosis of a motor-fed inverter setup. Information issued from sensors would be sent via power cables back to the controller despite the harsh environment and the switching of the inverter. This paper discusses the use of PLC technology over a pulsewidth modulation network by underlining the effect of the power cable length and the inverter switching on communication. A new approach based on the measurement of scattering parameters is used for this purpose, and the effect of the cable length is analyzed. It is shown that, for long distances, the PLC technology may not be effective, and hence, it is not possible to use power cables for communication.

A PLC-Based Method for Data Transmission Over a Pulsewidth-Modulated Network

The use of power networks as a communication medium is currently under development. Power line communication (PLC) is a recent technology that allows interconnecting high-speed multimedia equipment while using the conventional domestic electric network. This paper deals with the use of this technology over pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) networks in motor-drive applications. The originality stands on the frontier of two distinct domains-communication and energy. First, the performance of the PLC technology conceived for domestic applications is evaluated when used over a PWM network. Operating limits and main difficulties encountered are underlined. Based on the requirements of the PWM network, new PLC modems are developed and tested. Experimental results presented in this paper show the capacity of these modems to overcome the hostile environment due to the inverter and to guarantee reliable communication over the PWM network.

Development of a PLC modem for data transmission over a PWM power supply

In variable-speed electrical drive and online conditioning monitoring, a feedback loop is required in order to transmit the sensor information from the motor to the controller close to the inverter. Additional cabling is used for signalling. This extra cabling has a significant cost and data transmission may not be reliable. Thus, the use of power line communication (PLC) technology to transmit data in motor drive application is quite interesting. The use of a PLC modem dedicated to the home network in a three-phase inverter-fed motor power cable does not work. Therefore, specific coupling interfaces are developed to transmit data through a pulse-width modulated power supply. Laboratory tests have shown that the couplers are operating properly. They ensure reliable data transmission in a motor drive application.

An educational electric power simulator

Electric power system is a network of electrical components used to supply, transmit and use electric power. Due to the complexity and non-linearity of the power system, hand calculations may be very complicated in some cases, especially when the number of buses or inputs is very large. The aim of this paper is developing an electric power system software that focuses on three main concepts in power system analysis: fault calculation, power flow calculation, and economic dispatch calculation using GUI/MATLAB. This tool is considered as an educational interface that could be used by EE students helping them in analyzing the principles of a given power system.

Analysis and Design of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System – Lebanon Case

The depletion of fossil fuels and their environmental consequences have prompted searching for other sources of energy aiming to global status amelioration. In the recent past, renewable energy sources have been considered as alternatives for the fossil fuel energy sources. The unexpected pattern of natural resources assesses integrated utilizat ion of these sources to provide persistent and reliable power supply to the consumers. The technology’s advantages, requirements and related improvements are underlined and results are generalized. This paper covers the design of a solar and wind based hybrid renewable system presenting calculations and considerations in order to achieve an optimized design. Since hybrid systems performance relies main ly on geographical an d meteorological aspects, the study will consider the case of the Mediterranean area and in particu lar Lebanon.

Renewable Energy Technologies Penetration in MENA Region (2010-2030)

This paper focuses on quantifying the renewable energy mix in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and underlines its impact in terms of economic aspects. The installed and targeted capacities of solar, wind and other technologies will be revealed. In addition, distinguished present and on-going projects as well as prominent funding organizations are discussed. The overall strategy as well as the evolution of the renewable energy plan is resumed.

Modeling and real time simulation of a DFIG-based wind energy conversion system

As a result of the increasing environmental concern, more and more electricity is generated from renewable sources. Wind power is one of the most reliable sources of renewable energy in the 21st century and helps to meet the national energy demand when there is diminishing trend in terms of non-renewable resources. The performance and efficiency of any wind energy conversion system (WECS) depends upon the characteristics of the components constituting it. One of the most predominant WECS in literature consists of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) and a unidirectional power converter controlled by a vector control strategy. In this paper, a DFIG-based wind power system is analyzed, modeled and simulated. The effect of real time simulation and the choice of the used fixed step are discussed and evaluated. The technologys advantages, requirements and related improvements are underlined and results are generalized.

Communication over a pulse width modulated network: Impact of the power cable

Recently, investigations were made over the use of the power feeder cables in a motor inverter application as a medium for data transmission for control and diagnosis purposes. The Power Line Communication (PLC) technology has proved itself as an interesting solution for communicating in such an environment. Instead of using additional cables devoted for data transmission, Information issued from sensors would be sent via power cables back to the controller despite the harsh environment and the high frequency switching of the inverter. This paper discusses the effect of the power cable on the communication reliability by using the PLC technology over a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) network. It also underlines the high frequency switching effects of the inverter. A new approach based on experimental measuring of the scattering parameters is used for this purpose and the effects of the power cable length and the inverters switching are used to evaluate the effectiveness of communication.