2010 International Conference on Measuring Technology and Mechatronics Automation
An Electronic Voltage Transformer Based on WLAN Technology*
Feng Jianqin, Wang Qingming, Niu Fen, Cui Guangzhao, Zheng Anping
Henan Key Lab of Information-based Electrical Appliances, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry
Zhengzhou, China
feng_jianqin@126.com
Abstract—An electronic voltage transformer based on WLAN
technology is developed for adapting to the development trends
of substations’ synthesis automation. The transformer is
composed of voltage-to-current conversion unit, signal
processing unit and data transmitting unit. The voltage-to-
current conversion unit converts high voltage signal to weak
current signal. The signal processing unit amplifies weak
current signal and filters it and converts it to digital signal. The
data transmitting unit sends the digital signal to secondary
equipments by means of wireless communication. The data
transmission between the electronic voltage transformer and
the secondary equipments depends on WLAN technology,
which separates the secondary circuit from the primary system
thoroughly and improves the real-time and security of digital
communication.
Keywords—electronic voltage transformer; voltage-to-
current conversion; WLAN technology; digital interface; wireless
communication
I. INTRODUCTION
Voltage transformers are indispensable equipments
between primary systems and secondary circuits in power
systems and closely related to power system’s safe, stable
and reliable operation. Compared with traditional voltage
transformers, electronic voltage transformers possess many
advantages [1-3]. For example, one electronic voltage
transformer can be used for data measurement and relay
protection. Consequently, electronic voltage transformers
have good application prospect in medium or low voltage
power networks. However, present electronic voltage
transformers possess obvious drawbacks. For example, they
can neither completely isolate themselves from secondary
equipments, nor ensure the real time and reliability of
communication with secondary devices, etc. In order to
overcome the disadvantages mentioned above, another
electronic voltage transformer is introduced in this paper.
II. WLAN
WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technology is
derived from the combination of computer network
technology and wireless communication technology [4].
WLAN is a wireless network that links two or more
computers or devices in a local area through wireless media.
Different from wired LAN (Local Area Network), WLAN
uses wireless communication channels with multiple
accesses as the transmission medium, and utilizes
978-0-7695-3962-1/10 $26.00 © 2010 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/ICMTMA.2010.196
electromagnetic spectrum, radio wave or infrared ray, rather
than cable to transfer data. However, it provides the same
functions as the former, realizing real broadband network
access at all times and places.
Compared with wired LAN, WLAN has advantages as
follows:
• High transmission speed: its transmission speed has
already reached 11Mbit/s so far. And its transmission
distance amounts to 20km or more at the speed.
• Good expandability: it can be expanded easily by
means of various configuration ways as needed.
• Excellent flexibility: it has great flexibility because it
is not limited by the location of wiring nodes.
• Large coverage area: its communication range is not
restricted by environmental condition and is extended
widely.
• Easy installment: it can be arranged simply and
easily without digging cable trench and wiring.
What’s more, WLAN possesses strong anti-interference
ability and good network information confidentiality.
Accordingly it can almost avoid many security problems
existed in wired LAN.
III. WLAN IN ELECTRONIC TRANSFORMERS
A. Networking mode
The networking mode of electronic transformers and
measurement meters and protection devices uses star
network topology, as shown in Fig.1. In Fig.1, node AP,
called central node, is a wireless access point for
measurement meters and protection devices. Node AP and
electronic transformers constitute a WLAN, which makes it
possible to get a link-circuit with high speeds and middle or
long distances. The transceivers can use very narrow wave-
width because of no mobility of devices here. On the other
hand, node AP also connects to a wired LAN that consists of
a control computer, a supervisory computer, a RTU, a
CDMA module, some measurement meters and protection
devices. Thus a WLAN and a wired LAN are combined into
a larger communication network in which electronic
transformers can not only communicate with measurement
meters and protection devices, but also with the remote
control center via the CDMA module. Here node AP not
only works as an intermediate transit device, but also as a
connector that transfers the communication content in the
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WLAN to the intermediate equipment and finally sends them
to the remote network.
Figure 1. WLAN in electronic transformers
B. Data transmission
After being processed and modulated, the voltage or
current signals collected by electronic transformers are sent
to the measurement meters and protection devices through
WLAN, node AP and wired LAN. Because of the existence
of WLAN, the secondary equipments are insulated from the
primary circuit completely. So the secondary circuit will
never be overvoltage in any case, even if short circuits occur
in electronic transformers or electronic transformers are
damaged seriously. Consequently, WLAN can ensure high
safety for electronic transformers without threatening the
safety of secondary equipments and workers.
C. Remote communication
The base station and the control center are connected by
means of a couple of CDMA modules, being able to realize
remote data communication and video monitoring, and
adapting to the development trend of the 3G network. The
CDMA modules may be module SD5600 in which an ARM
processor and an embedded operating system are applied.
Therefore they can work by themselves without the support
of any background computer. And they can automatically
connect with each other, detect on-line and redial if off-line.
In addition, they own various serial interfaces: TTL/RS-
232/RS-422/RS-485, providing users with sufficient
flexibility.
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IV. THE ELECTRONIC VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER
A. Constitution
The electronic voltage transformer consists of three parts:
voltage to current conversion unit, signal processing unit and
data transmission unit, as shown in Fig.2.
U1
R1
Figure 2. the electronic voltage transformer
In the electronic voltage transformer, the voltage to
current conversion unit is mainly composed of a thick-film
resistor and an electromagnetic coil. The resistor is used as a
voltage sensor, which changes a high voltage signal into a
weak current signal in milliamps. And the coil is used as a
current sensor to measure the weak current signal with its
output being passed to the signal processing unit [5].
B. Signal processing unit
The signal processing unit enlarges and filters and
compensates the output signals of the voltage to current
conversion unit, then converts them to digital signals by
means of an A/D converter, and finally processes the digital
signals in DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The structure of
the signal processing unit is shown in Fig.3.
Figure 3. the signal processing unit
Here the A/D converter uses AD9281 with high
performance. Its main characteristics are as following:
• Differential input;
• Double channel, 8 bit digital output;
• Frequency is up to 28 MS/s;
• Power supply is 2.7~5.5V;
• Power consumption is only 225mW at 3V.
C. Data transmission unit
The data transmission unit adopts the IEEE802.11b
protocol and has no waiting time to poll the system, which is
especially applied to the communication of real-time data
transmission systems with excellent confidentiality and
strong anti-interference ability. It works at the frequency
band of 2.4GHz with no need to apply for an exclusive
frequency channel. The data transmission unit is shown in
Fig.4.
Figure 4. the data transmission unit
The communication module is fundamental in order to
connect the electronic voltage transformer into WLAN and
establish correspondingly wireless communication links.
WM3236A, A WLAN communication module, is used here.
It is a system-in-a-package module with the IEEE802.11b
protocol, integrating the functions of RF transceiver,
baseband controller, MAC, memory, power management
circuit, CPU, peripheral controller, and so on. Consequently,
it is able to realize WLAN communication. In addition,
WM3236A can be connected with the DSP through one of
three interfaces: SDIO, SPI or UART.
The power amplifier is used to enlarge emission signals
and make their output power much larger. The amplifier may
be realized by use of AWL6153UM7P8, a type of power
amplification chip. The output power of AWL6153UM7P8
is up to 25dBm at DC 5V when the speed of output signals is
11Mb/s under the 802.11b mode. In fact, two identical
application circuits of AWL6153UM7P8 can be paralleled to
form a so-called balanced amplifier and obtain much
stronger output signals. Therefore, the balanced amplifier is
used as the power amplifier of the data transmission unit
here.
In Fig.4, the digital signals from the DSP are firstly
modulated into analog signals with zero intermediate
frequency; then the analog signals are changed into 2.4GHz
signals by means of frequency conversion technology; the
2.4GHz analog signals are finally transmitted via the power
amplifier.
V. CONCLUSIONS
With the development of microelectronic,
microcomputer, digital communication and network
technology, the SPDnet (State Power Data network) is being
constructed and is making progress. Under the
circumstances, the electronic transformers based on Ethernet
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technology are widely used in digital substations. Because of
the advantages of WLAN, the electronic transformers based
on WLAN technology will eventually replace other
transformers and probably become next-generation
transformers.
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*This project is supported by the Doctor Scientific Research
Fund of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry
(2007BSJJ003) and the International Cooperation Fund of
Zhengzhou Municipal Government (074SGHH21276).