Designing Broadband over Power Lines Networks Using the Techno-Economic Pedagogical (TEP) Method – Part II: Overhead Low-Voltage and Medium-Voltage Channels and Their Modal Transmission Characteristics

Athanasios Lazaropoulos

doi:10.17737/tre.2015.1.2.006

Abstract

Based on the techno-economic pedagogical (TEP) method proposed in [1] that is suitable for designing Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) networks in transmission and distribution power grids, this paper examines the broadband potential of overhead low-voltage/broadband over power lines (LV/BPL) and medium-voltage/broadband over power lines (MV/BPL) networks. In this paper, on the basis of the set of linear simplifications and techno-economic metrics already presented in [1], TEP method demonstrates to undergraduate electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students the behavior of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL networks in terms of their modal transmission characteristics when different overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL topologies occur. The contribution of this paper is four-fold. First, the factors influencing modal transmission characteristics of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL networks are investigated with regard to their spectral behavior and end-to-end channel attenuation. Second, the impact of the multiplicity of branches at the same junction is first examined. In the light of cascaded two-way power dividers, TEP method is extended so as to cope with more complex BPL topologies offering a new simplified and accurate circuital approximation. Third, apart from the broadband transmission characteristics of the entire overhead distribution power grid, a consequence of the application of TEP method is that it helps towards the intraoperability/interoperability of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL systems under a common PHY framework in the concept of a unified distribution smart grid (SG) power network. Fourth, TEP method can be demonstrated to undergraduate ECE students as case study in order to stimulate their interest for Microwave Engineering and Circuit/System Engineering courses. Citation: Lazaropoulos, A. (2015). Designing Broadband over Power Lines Networks Using the Techno-Economic Pedagogical (TEP) Method – Part II: Overhead Low-Voltage and Medium-Voltage Channels and Their Modal Transmission Characteristics. Trends In Renewable Energy, 1 (2), 59-86. doi: 10.17737/tre.2015.1.2.006

Highlights

The need of bridging the digital gap between underdeveloped and developed areas signals the green light towards the deployment of broadband over power lines (BPL) networks across transmission –i.e., high-voltage (HV)– and distribution –i.e., low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV)– power grids [1]-[9]
Based on the techno-economic pedagogical (TEP) method proposed in [1] that is suitable for designing Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) networks in transmission and distribution power grids, this paper examines the broadband potential of overhead low-voltage/broadband over power lines (LV/BPL) and medium-voltage/broadband over power lines (MV/BPL) networks
Except for the pedagogical purposes of TEP method, the simulations of various types of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL transmission channels aim at revealing to electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students: (a) their broadband transmission characteristics; (b) how their spectral behavior is affected by several factors, such as the type/topology of the overhead power grid and the multiplicity of branches; (c) the introduction of appropriate simplified approximations; and (d) the common PHY

Summary

Introduction

The need of bridging the digital gap between underdeveloped and developed areas signals the green light towards the deployment of broadband over power lines (BPL) networks across transmission –i.e., high-voltage (HV)– and distribution –i.e., low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV)– power grids [1]-[9]. As far as the spectral behavior of the modes is concerned, the following characteristics should be noted As it concerns overhead BPL propagation in overhead LV and MV MTL configurations, according to the hybrid method, in the lower part of the frequency spectrum –up to approximately 20MHz–, the attenuation of the CMXVs is higher compared to that of the DMXVs. At frequencies above 20MHz, propagation takes place entirely above the ground as in the lossless case. According to TEP method, the basic differences between the aforementioned modes are maintained so that ECE students could recognize the effect of MTL configurations and ground/air properties to the propagation phenomena. As it has already been presented in [1], [2], [4], [19], [21], [30]-[32], the EVD modal voltages

XV z V1XV z

XV z H XV V XV 0

Numerical Results and Discussion

Multiple Branch Attenuation Discontinuity and the Extension of Simplified

Conclusions

Conflicts of Interest