ON THE BROADBAND POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SIGNALS’ DYNAMIC FEATURES

Abstract

For the purpose of transmitting data in smart grids, broadband communication over power lines (PLC) is considered to be one of the feasible technologies. Due to the multi-path effect of the signal propagation in complicate electrical networks, PLC signals present some dynamic features in time and space domains. The mono-fractal and multi-fractal theories are introduced to understand such dynamic features in PLC signals. Four common methods, namely, re-scaled range analysis, variance–time plot method, periodic diagram analysis and wavelet-based method are used to study the nonlinear properties and self-similarity. Fractal analysis at different frequencies and times is also performed to verify further. The paper also tests multi-fractal properties of PLC signals by the means of multi-fractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA). The multi-fractal spectrum of power low exponents is estimated from the measured PLC signals. We also proposed a new algorithm to improve the performance of the traditional MFDFA, where wavelet theory is integrated. By simulations, the better performance of the proposed method is verified.