PREMO Launches The MICUs – NB ＆ BB Series for Non-intrusive Inductive Coupler

This innovation is designed for a combined use of narrow-band and broad-band communication in the same inductive coupler.

PREMO, the leading manufacturer of inductive components, announces this extensive MICU devices family to cover a wide frequency range for power line communications in Smart-Grid applications and to use in the development of EV-charging stations for communication protocol diagnosis.

The main advantages of these inductive couplers are:

1. Non-Intrusive (no disconnect cables, terminals, etc.)

2. Easy to use (and installation). Clamp, click and connect (<5s)

3. Can wrap cables up to 45mm diameter (current capability up to 300Arms)

4. High insulation voltage

5. Narrow band operation (30-600kHz) for long-distance communications

6. Broad band operation (1~2MHz – 40MHz) for short and medium distance communication

7. NB & BB combined (NB for Long-distance and BB for short distance)

Power line communications (PLC) is a global technology that is gaining interest worldwide due to the wide availability of power distribution lines. In smart grids inductive couplers are playing a big role. They transmit the communication signals between MV-Substations and MV-Sub to concentrators, avoiding other special transmission network, such as FO, Coaxial, Radio, etc., being a competitive solution compared with capacitive coupling.

Smart Grids require the deployment of bidirectional communication links that interconnect the nodes of the grid. Power line communication (PLC) is a technology able to do that, and it potentially reduces the investment cost by exploiting the existing grid infrastructure.

PLC can be used to offer a number of services in the grid through digital monitoring to control for fault detection, power quality and islanding effects. Energy management allows decentralized production and control of storage and electrical vehicles charge. Smart metering is the key component for demand side and demand response management. Smart building solutions can be put forth with automation and control inside buildings.

PLCs are a natural choice to deliver bi-directional connectivity in the power delivery grid.

PREMO has developed a wide range of MV-Inductive couplers:

Table 1

Two different high performance magnetic core materials are used, depending onthe frequency band and magnetic saturation (ferrite high permeability for broadband communication (high frequency)) and amorphous material for narrowband communication (low frequency).

This helps to improve communication efficiency as it offers low insertion losses.

MICU 300 A-S/LFW/OH (NB-series: 30-600kHz)

All inductive couplers are suitable for listen CCS (Combined Charging system) communication protocol between a charging station (EVSE) and an electric vehicle (EV): ISO/IEC 15118, DIN70121 and IEC 61851-1.

Non-intrusive solution (by PLC sniffer: MICU 300A) for monitoring PWM basic communication parameters