Low-voltage Power Line Communication Research Articles

Characterizing MIMO Channels in Low-Voltage Electric Power Line Communication through Impedance and Scattering Parameters Analysis

Characterizing MIMO Channels in Low-Voltage Electric Power Line Communication through Impedance and Scattering Parameters Analysis

ERRATUM: Characterizing MIMO Channels in Low-Voltage Electric Power Line Communication through Impedance and Scattering Parameters Analysis

ERRATUM: Characterizing MIMO Channels in Low-Voltage Electric Power Line Communication through Impedance and Scattering Parameters Analysis

Model-based clustering of multipath propagation in powerline communication channels

Powerline communication (PLC) channels are known to exhibit multipath propagation behaviour. The authors present a model-based framework to address the challenge of clustering multipath propagation components (MPCs) in PLC channels for indoor low-voltage (LV) environments. The framework employs a range of finite-mixture models (FMMs), including the gamma mixture model, the inverse gamma mixture model, the Gaussian mixture model, the inverse Gaussian mixture model, the Nakagami mixture model, the inverse Nakagami mixture model (INMM) and the Rayleigh mixture model, to identify clusters of MPCs. A measurement campaign of an unknown indoor LV PLC channel is conducted to obtain a channel response. From the channel response, the delay and magnitude parameters of the MPCs are extracted using the space-alternating generalised expectation maximisation algorithm adopted only for these parameters. A maximum likelihood approach and the expectation–maximisation algorithm are employed to fit the FMMs to the MPC delay-magnitude dataset to cluster MPCs in the delay domain. The results of the model-fitting process are then evaluated using the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc), which enables a fair comparison of the candidate models over the feasible and finite range of clusters. A novel algorithm is introduced for estimating the feasible and finite range of clusters using the extracted delay and magnitude MPC parameters. The AICc’s ranking results show that the INMM model provides the best fit. Davies–Bouldin (DB) and Calinski–Harabasz (CH) indexes are used to compare the model-based clustering approach to the conventional distance-based clustering methods. Validation results show that CH and DB indexes closely agree in the optimal number of MPC clusters for model-based clustering, which corresponds to the most within-cluster compactness of MPCs and to the most between-cluster separation in the delay domain.

Performance Analysis of Power Line Communication System for Massive Indoor IoT Applications

This study explores the utilization of low-voltage indoor power line communication (PLC) technology within the framework of a split centralized radio access network (C-RAN) architecture, aimed at enhancing 5G indoor mobile coverage for the Internet of Things (IoT). A primary focus of this investigation is the comprehensive evaluation of the system’s performance in terms of radio and access latency. Several critical variables come into play, including available bandwidth, the chosen transmission technology, and the number of wireless IoT devices within the network. An analytical model, employing queuing theory, Markovian models, and stochastic geometry, is formulated to assess the radio-access delay spanning the air interface and the innovative PLC-based front-hauling system proposed in our previous study. The precision of this model is validated through simulations, ensuring that the proposed system effectively meets the stringent latency constraints required by eCPRI, thus contributing to the improvement of 5G indoor mobile coverage for the IoT network.

Information Fusion Method of Power Internet of Things Based on Low-Voltage Power Line and Micro-Power Wireless Communication

In order to improve the coverage and reliability of the information perception layer of the power Internet of things, a method of constructing a cross layer fusion network of low-voltage power line and micro-power wireless communication (CPW) is proposed. Firstly, a unified medium access control (MAC) layer model of CPW is established to provide basic support for realizing the integration of CPW network layers; then an improved ant colony algorithm combining Brownian motion and local convergence times control is proposed to complete the networking process of CPW; Distribute the sub-service flow of CPW, and propose the bit error rate requirement factor in the service distribution, and accomplish the cross-layer integration of low-voltage power line and micro-power wireless communication network. The simulation results show that the communication link service quality of the cross-layer fusion network is better than that of the power line and wireless dual-mode or cascaded communication networks. The communication efficiency of CPW is improved to 398.20kbits/s. The coverage of the power line and wireless communication fusion network can be expanded by setting corresponding bit error rate demand factors according to different services. It takes into account the balance of communication link quality and network load.

Noise Elimination of Low-Voltage Power Line Communication Channel using Time-Frequency Peak Filtering Algorithm

There are a lot of noises in the low-voltage power line communication (LVPLC) channel, which seriously damages the LVPLC system. The noise in the low voltage power line can be divided into general background noise and random pulse noise. These two noises will cause serious interference to the communication process based on LVPLC, reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of LVPLC system, and the communication quality cannot meet the requirements. To ensure the communication quality, this paper uses the time-frequency peak filtering algorithm to eliminate the noise in the LVPLC in the experimental environment. Firstly, this paper studies the noise characteristics based on the measured LVPLC channel noise. Secondly, the memory noise model is established, and the time-frequency peak filtering algorithm is used to eliminate the noise. In order to analyze the denoising effect of time-frequency peak filtering algorithm, the algorithm is simulated. Finally, the application effect of the algorithm is verified by experimental test. The simulation and application results show that the time-frequency peak filtering algorithm can improve the signal-to-noise ratio by about 5 dB in the actual noise environment of LVPLC, which can adapt to the changeable environment of LVPLC channel noise, and has good noise suppression effect and good application value. The application in the solar panel data transmission system shows that the time-frequency peak filtering algorithm can meet the communication performance requirements of the laboratory, reduce the bit error rate by about 2 % under the general background noise interference, and reduce the bit error rate by about 3 % under the pulse interference environment, and improve the transmission quality of LVPLC system.

Selection of indoor relay node positions for a three‐hop low‐voltage broadband power line communication system

Low-voltage broadband power line communication (PLC) system transmits its information by the power line on the existed infrastructure. However, PLC attenuation and its harsh environment make it difficult to establish a reliable communication between the source and destination nodes, and relay-aided (RA) PLC technology can be used to solve this issue to increase the transmission rate and coverage. In this study, an indoor three-hop RA PLC system is under investigation for the first time. Based on a simple PLC attenuation model, the optimal relay node positions and transmitted power distribution of each node are studied to get the best system performance in theory. Then, a criterion of selection optimal relay node positions in a practical power-line network is derived by solving an optimisation problem. Finally, for a specific power-line network, the criterion for the selection of optimal relay node positions at the existed sockets between the source and destination nodes is verified. The theoretical work in this study could be useful in the design of broadband multi-hop RA PLC systems and their engineering applications.

Measurements and Statistical Modelling for Time Behaviour of Power Line Communication Impulsive Noise

This paper proposes a suitable Markov chain stochastic model for the stationary and impulsive noise present in the indoor low-voltage power line communication (PLC) channel in the broadband frequency range of 1-30 MHz, based on extensive measurements. This statistical noise model has three regimes (states) representing background noise, single impulse noise and burst impulse noise. The Markov chain mainly translates the characteristics of PLC noise processes as a catenation of several successive noise impulses, which are consecutively originated in time, producing regular time sample span. When used to produce PLC noise events, the produced data sample sequence proves to conserve the original distribution of the noise measurements with considerable accuracy. In this way, it is considered for examining the time behaviour of PLC noise as a Markov chain with stochastic matrices. From this set of measured data, analytical distribution functions are proposed to model the distribution of measured values. The model enables a more accurate prediction and simulation of PLC system performance and availability.

Simulation and Experimental Study of Low Voltage Power Line Carrier Communication

This paper presents the simulation and experimental research of low-voltage power line carrier communication. The choice of communication method is an important factor in determining the communication quality of the communication system. For the communication mode of low-voltage power line as carrier, this paper prefers the direct sequence spread spectrum communication system as the communication method. In this paper, the simulation function is realized by establishing various parts of the system simulation model. The simulation reflects the stability of the direct sequence spread spectrum communication system and has strong anti-interference ability. In this paper, the spread spectrum communication method is used to simulate low-voltage power line communication in the laboratory environment, and good results are also obtained. The direct sequence spread spectrum communication system is a better choice for low voltage power line carrier communication.

Design of the Disconnection Fault Detection System for Low Voltage Cable in Power System

The paper proposes a designed scheme for the fault detection system of low voltage cable breakage in power system. By analyzing the characteristics of low voltage power line communication channel, establishing the channel characteristic model and comparing the measurement data with the simulation model, the author summarizes the impedance characteristics, noise characteristics and attenuation characteristics. It can be concluded that the suitable frequency range for communication is between 120kHz and 20kHz. The signal modulation method is studied, that the spread spectrum modulation is a preferred method. It also shows good results in the simulation. The object testing is done. The device and test method selected by author can be used to realize the early warning function of the power system low-voltage cable disconnection fault.

Modelling and comparison for low‐voltage broadband power line noise using LS‐SVM and wavelet neural networks

This study is to construct the autoregressive models for the low-voltage broadband power line communication (PLC) channel noise by two machine learning algorithms, namely the least square support vector machine (LS-SVM) and wavelet neural networks. The main work is to compare the two classical machine learning algorithms and also compare them with the traditional Markovian–Gaussian method. To verify their availability and ability to adapt to the time-variant PLC channels, noise measurements for low-voltage PLC channels in indoor and outdoor scenarios are carried out. The accuracy and efficiency of the two models are studied and compared based on a large amount of measurement data. The results show that both of the noise models can simulate and adapt to the time-variant low-voltage broadband PLC channels very well. The LS-SVM model is found to have shorter simulation time and higher accuracy. Moreover, the proposed noise models are also compared with the traditional Markovian–Gaussian model. The results show that both the proposed noise models exhibit higher accuracy and lower complexity, especially that the LS-SVM is more appropriate to be applied as a noise generator in PLC link and network level simulations instead of the current Markovian–Gaussian model.

基于正交频分复用技术的低压电力线通信系统模型

基于正交频分复用技术的低压电力线通信系统模型

The Influence of the Branch Loads on Low-Voltage Power Line Communication Channel

The Influence of the Branch Loads on Low-Voltage Power Line Communication Channel

Channel Estimation Based on Compressed Sensing Technique for Low-Voltage Power Line Communication

Broadband low-voltage power line communication (PLC) has many advantages including less investment cost, construction speed, and convenient access. Since the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology has strong anti-jamming and anti-frequency selective fading characteristics naturally it becomes a better low voltage power line communication solution. We proposed an OFDM channel estimation method based on compressed sensing (CS) technique according to the channel characteristics of low-voltage power lines. CS algorithm in OFDM system was discussed and an orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm was applied to reconstruct the PLC channel information. The simulation results showed that the communication channel estimation method based on CS technique was feasible in PLC system, and the validity of information transmission in OFDM systems can be enhanced.

Modeling simulation and performance evaluation of low voltage power line communication channel

Modeling simulation and performance evaluation of low voltage power line communication channel

Network Performance Optimization for Low-Voltage Power Line Communications

Low-voltage power line communication (LVPLC) medium access control protocols significantly affect home area networks performance. This study addresses poor network performance issues caused by asymmetric channels and noise interference by proposing the following: (i) an improved Q learning method for optimizing the improved artificial LVPLC cobweb, wherein the learning-based hybrid time-division-multiple-access (TDMA)/carrier-sense-multiple-access (CSMA) protocol, the asymmetrical network system, is modeled as a discrete Markov decision process, associates the station information using online trial-and-error learning, builds a routing table, periodically studies stations to choose a better forward path, and optimizes the shortest backbone cluster tree between the central coordinator and the stations, guaranteeing network stability; and (ii) an improved adaptive p-persistent CSMA game optimization method is proposed to optimize the improved artificial cobweb saturation throughput and access delay performance. The current state of the game (e.g., the number of competitive stations) for each station is estimated by the hidden Markov model. The station changes its equilibrium strategy based on the estimated number of active stations, which reduces the collision probability of data packets, optimizes channel transmission status, and increases performance by dynamically adjusting the probability p. An optimal saturation performance is achieved by finitely repeating the game. We present numerical results to validate our proposed approach.

Analysis of Bursty Impulsive Noise in Low-Voltage Indoor Power Line Communication Channels: Local Scaling Behaviour

Power line communication (PLC) channels are prone to multipath propagation due to impedance mismatch, and impulsive noise whose characteristics are still not well established in the literature. Moreover, measurements show that this impulsive noise appear in bursts, non-Gaussian and cyclostationary and as such cannot be modeled as the convenient additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). Transceivers optimized for AWGN may not necessarily perform well for the PLC noise. Therefore, investigating the characteristics of PLC noise is very important for accurate modeling of the same. This study presents multifractal analysis of bursty impulsive noise measured from power line networks from three different environments. We employ multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis, which is a well-developed multifractal analysis technique for non-stationary time series data and easy to implement to analyze measured noise data. Results show that power line noise exhibits both long-range dependence (LRD) and multifractal scaling behavior with different strengths depending on the environments where they were captured. The multiscaling behavior is due to long-range correlation inherent in the power line noise. The source of this local multiscaling behavior is determined by analysis a shuffled series of the original data captured from the power network. Multifractal analysis is able to show clearly both the strengths and frequency of occurrence of bursts occurring in PLC noise which can then be applied in accurate modeling of the noise. The significance of these results is that new power line noise models should be developed that captures both LRD and multifractal scaling for more accurate performance evaluation of power line communication systems. The existing noise models though able to replicate temporal dependence of PLC noise, are not able to capture this local scaling behavior which results show is inherent in PLC noise.

Reliability and Survivability Analysis of Artificial Cobweb Network Model Used in the Low-Voltage Power-Line Communication System

In order to verify the feasibility of the artificial cobweb model used in low-voltage power-line communication (LVPLC) routing to improve the reliability of LVPLC, the all-terminal reliability of the artificial cobweb model has been calculated based on the factorization method in this paper. Analysis shows that the proposed artificial cobweb shows much better survivability than existing tree and ring network topologies. Simulation results of delay, throughput, and bit-error ratio are further presented to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis about the reliability and survivability of LVPLC networks based on the artificial cobweb model, which further proves the feasibility of the artificial cobweb model for LVPLC routing. These results potentially provide a guideline to practical LVPLC system design.

Simulation of low-voltage narrow-band power line communication networks to propagate OpenADR signals

This study analyzes the performance of power-line communications for sending open automated demand response (OpenADR) signals. In particular, we study main channel disturbances that can affect end-to-end communications and which have not been previously studied in detail. Our analysis takes into account physical phenomena, such as background and impulsive noise sources, channel attenuation, and multipath effects, and considers the physical, network, and applications layers of the communications structure. The performance of the physical layer is the basis for computing the packet error rate. In analyzing application performance, we focus specifically on the latency in several communication environments. If a channel is impaired only by background noise, latencies are less than 40 seconds. With the addition of impulsive noise in the channel, this value increases as long as 68 seconds. Using these figures, we find that power-line technology is more suitable for slow demand programs, such as day-ahead or day-of curtailments, rather than ancillary services markets, which require near-real-time communication.

Research and Application of a Solution to Acquire Electric Energy Data

The electric energy data acquire system with full coverage of power user is the important component of the deployment of strong & smart grid. The low-voltage power line communication has become a mainstream technology in the construction of electric energy data acquire system in China. Micro-power wireless is a short-range, low-power, low complexity, low-cost wireless communication technology, which has the characteristics of large capacity, short delay and high stability. However, a single communication mode is hard to meet the requirement of full coverage of electric power user because the structure of distribution network is complicated. This paper proposes an integrated solution based on the PLC and micro-power wireless communication for electric energy data acquire network system, which achieved good results in the field, validate the feasibility of the solution.