Deterministic modeling of the (shielded) outdoor power line channel based on the multiconductor transmission line equations

Abstract

In this paper, a complete methodology is proposed for the deterministic modeling of the channel transfer functions associated with underground power line access networks, in the light of the Multiconductor Transmission Line Theory. Some multiconductor power line cables are analyzed in detail, and their fundamental propagation characteristics (definition of eigenmodes, phase velocity, characteristic impedance, lineic attenuation) are related to the geometry of the conductors and the material properties. A multidimensional scattering matrix formalism is then introduced to perform an accurate analysis of the global power line network including multiconductor cable segments, derivation points, and termination loads. An illustrative example of a power line access network with three types of cables (with different numbers of conductors), 20 derivations, and five remote terminals, is finally proposed.