Abstract
This paper analyzes the characteristics of narrowband power line communication (NB-PLC) channels and assesses their performance when used for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) communications. This medium has been traditionally considered too hostile. However, the research activities carried out in the last decade have shown that it is a suitable technology for a large number of applications. This work provides a statistical characterization of NB-PLC channels in the CENELEC-A band. The presented results have been obtained from a set of 106 links measured in urban, suburban, and rural scenarios. The study covers the input impedance of the power line network, the channel response and the noise. The analysis of the channel response examines the delay spread, the coherence bandwidth, and the attenuation, while the assessment of the noise considers both its spectral and temporal characteristics. Since low voltage (LV) distribution networks consists of several conductors, they can be simultaneously used to set up multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication links. This paper investigates the correlation between the MIMO streams. The bit rates that can be attained both in the single-input single-output (SISO) and in the MIMO cases are estimated and discussed.
Highlights
1 Introduction The conventional paradigm of electricity networks ‘generate what is consumed’ is shifting towards the new ‘consume what is produced’ [1,2]. This change is motivated by facts like the increased use of renewable sources, which have a much more decentralized structure than conventional ones and whose generating capacity is subject to unpredictable factors, and by new consumption patterns like electric vehicles charging, which complicate the demand forecasting
7 Conclusions This paper has presented a statistical analysis of the characteristics of narrowband power line communication (NB-power line communications (PLC)) channels in the CENELECA band and has assessed their performance when used for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) communications in rural, semiurban, and urban scenarios
The channel response has been studied in terms of the delay spread, the coherence bandwidth, and the attenuation
Summary
The conventional paradigm of electricity networks ‘generate what is consumed’ is shifting towards the new ‘consume what is produced’ [1,2]. Recent noise measurements and models incorporated into the IEEE P1901.2 have provided much insight into the noise features in the frequency band above 100 kHz [15]. Their suitability for the CENELEC-A band has not been assessed. We estimate the data rates that could be achieved both in single-input single-output (SISO) and MIMO communications These results will be useful to clarify whether there is a need for using BB-PLC in the last mile of AMIs. The rest of the paper is organized as follows.
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