Approach for modelling of broadband lowvoltage PLC channels using graph theory

Abstract

Broadband power line is an important way of communication in low-voltage distribution networks because a power line is everywhere nowadays. However, due to the heterogeneity of a practical power-line network and various loads connected to its termination points, modelling and simulation of power-line communication (PLC) channels are difficult and complicated issues. In this work, the authors propose a novel PLC channel modelling approach using graph theory for the first time when knowing the power-line network topologies and cable distributed parameters. The approach utilises simple and effective recursive operations in solving the k-shortest paths to estimate the channel transfer function for a specific power-line network, it overcomes the complicated analytical derivation in computing the channel transfer function by the traditional two-port network in the bottom-up model and avoids to measure the actual channel in a top-down model. Their proposed approach is validated by transmission-line (TL) theory as well as measurement results, and it is also compared with TL theory. The results show that their proposed PLC channel modelling approach herein is simple to be implemented, it is expected to have extensive applications in broadband PLC systems for performance evaluations.