Improvement of the Destructive Interference Method in the Mitigation of PLC Radiation of Imbalanced Impedance Electrical Networks

Abstract

Communication technology by power line carrier (PLC) marks its return with the advent of energy-mix. Although appreciated by power-grid operators and customers, this technology suffers from the emission of parasitic electromagnetic radiation. Suspected of causing heath problem, the future of this technology is linked to the level of its radiation reduction. This radiation, which is mainly due to the common mode current, can be attenuated by many ways such as the destructive interference method. The destructive interference method is a dynamic mitigation method mainly used on indoor PLC network. The mitigation of PLC radiation by this method gives reduction rates of more than 24 dB on a balanced impedance electrical network. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this method decreases sharply depending on the level of network instability (impedance imbalance). This work focuses on improving the effectiveness of the destructive interference method on certain points of the network (point of weak mitigation or amplification of radiation) in an unstable environment. This improvement of the method is centered on the adaptation of the mitigation parameters (phase and amplitude) via a sequential mode of action. The positive impact of the improved method, although focused on a specific area, extended throughout the network. For a network with imbalanced impedance, the average rate of mitigation with this new method exceeds 11 dB.