MIMO Power Line Communications

Narrow and Broadband Standards, EMC, and Advanced Processing

Lars Torsten Berger, Andreas Schwager, Pascal Pagani, Daniel Schneider, Lars Torsten Berger, Andreas Schwager, Pascal Pagani, Daniel Schneider

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781466557529
• eBook ISBN: 9781351832120
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications
• Index: Technology & Engineering

One of the first publications of its kind in the exciting field of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) power line communications (PLC), MIMO Power Line Communications: Narrow and Broadband Standards, EMC, and Advanced Processing contains contributions from experts in industry and academia, making it practical enough to provide a solid understanding of how PLC technologies work, yet scientific enough to form a base for ongoing R&D activities.

This book is subdivided into five thematic parts. Part I looks at narrow- and broadband channel characterization based on measurements from around the globe. Taking into account current regulations and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), part II describes MIMO signal processing strategies and related capacity and throughput estimates. Current narrow- and broadband PLC standards and specifications are described in the various chapters of part III. Advanced PLC processing options are treated in part IV, drawing from a wide variety of research areas such as beamforming/precoding, time reversal, multi-user processing, and relaying. Lastly, part V contains case studies and field trials, where the advanced technologies of tomorrow are put into practice today.

Suitable as a reference or a handbook, MIMO Power Line Communications: Narrow and Broadband Standards, EMC, and Advanced Processing features self-contained chapters with extensive cross-referencing to allow for a flexible reading path.

Part I

Power Line Channel and Noise: Characteristics and Modelling

1

Introduction to Power Line Communication Channel and Noise Characterisation

Lars T. Berger, Pascal Pagani, Andreas Schwager and Piet Janse van Rensburg

CONTENTS

1.1 Introduction

1.2 PLC Frequency Bands and Topologies

1.3 Coupling Methods

1.4 Channel and Noise Measurement Set-Up

1.4.1 Transfer Function Measurements

1.4.2 Reflection Measurements and Input Impedance Calculation

1.4.3 Noise Measurements

1.5 Channel Characterisation and Modelling Approaches

1.5.1 Channel Characteristics

1.5.2 Channel Modelling Overview

1.5.3 MIMO Channel Models

1.6 Noise Characterisation and Modelling Approaches

1.6.1 Noise Characteristics

1.6.2 Noise Modelling for MIMO PLC

1.7 Conclusion

Appendix 1 A: Introduction to Transmission Line Theory

Acknowledgements

References

1.1 Introduction^*

Since the late 1990s, an increased effort has been put into the characterisation of power line communication (PLC) channels with the aim of designing communication systems that use the electrical power distribution grid as data transmission medium.

Reliable PLC systems, for home networking, Internet protocol television (IPTV), Smart Grid and smart building applications are now a reality. However, power lines have not been designed for communication purposes and constitute a difficult environment to convey information via early analogue signalling or nowadays widespread advanced digital PLC systems. The PLC channel exhibits frequency-selective multi-path fading, a low-pass behaviour, cyclic short-term variations and abrupt long-term variations that are introduced in Section 1.5. Further, power line noise can be grouped based on temporal as well as spectral characteristics. Following, for example [5,6], one can distinguish coloured background noise, narrowband (NB) noise, periodic impulsive noise (asynchronous or synchronous to the alternating current [AC] frequency), as well as aperiodic impulsive noise (see Section 1.6). These impairments are leading some researchers to speak of a ‘horrible channel’ [7].

Apart from these, the very principle of PLC implies that small-signal, high-frequency technologies are being deployed over power-carrying cables and networks that were designed for electricity transmission at low frequencies. In terms of voltage, the equipments’ communication ports would fail if they were connected directly to the power grid. This is similarly true when looking at PLC testing and measurement equipment, such as a spectrum analyser, which is why PLC couplers are needed to couple the communication signal into and out of the power line while at the same time protecting the communication equipment. Couplers may be of either inductive or capacitive nature with detailed coupling schemes introduced in Section 1.3. Before that, however, this chapter looks at PLC frequency bands and common topologies in Section 1.2 as these are possibly the most profound stage setters when characterising PLC channel and noise scenarios. In the sequel, the aim of Section 1.4 is to provide information on measurement equipment and procedures that have been used to generate a plurality of results for various chapters throughout this book. Further, Sections 1.5 and 1.6 introduce the underlying concepts of PLC channel and noise modelling, respectively, and guide the reader to the more detailed chapters on each topic. This chapter is rounded off by an appendix that explains the basics of dual conductor transmission line theory, considered interesting background reading for those new to PLC signal propagation.

1.2 PLC Frequency Bands and Topologies

The frequency bands – as agreed upon by the International Telecommunications Union [8] – are shown in Figure 1.1. The band name abbreviations stand for super low, ultra low, very low, low, medium, high, ultra high, very high, super high, extremely high and tremendously high frequency, respectively. As indicated in Figure 1.1, currently only the VLF up to the UHF bands are interesting for PLC systems. These systems are usually subdivided into narrowband (NB) and broadband (BB) PLC; the former operating below 1.8 MHz, the latter operating above [9]. Details on the regulations corresponding to these frequency bands can be found in Chapter 6. An overview on systems that belong to either the class of NB-PLC or the class of BB-PLC can be found in Chapter 10.

Besides the distinction into NB-PLC and BB-PLC, it has been common practice to distinguish power line topologies according to operation voltages of...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Editors
• Contributors
• Part I Power Line Channel and Noise: Characteristics and Modelling
• Part II Regulations, Electromagnetic Compatibility and MIMO Capacity
• Part III Current PLC Systems and Their Evolution
• Part IV Advanced PHY and MAC Layer Processing
• Part V Implementations, Case Studies and Field Trials
• Index