Parametric study of Transmission Line Parameters

for Power line Communication

Ranjan Banerjee(1), Royston John Sequeira(1), Varun N(1) , Mahesh Jayakar(2), Pradeep A S(3)

(1) Student R V College of Engineering, Bangalore-560059.

(2) JRF, R V College of Engineering, Bangalore-560059.
(3) Lecturer, R V College of Engineering, Bangalore-560059

Abstract-Electricity is the driving force behind industry and development of a communication system. Here in our study
subsequently economy. This very important commodity is we have adapted British Telecom (BT) model. (BT is the
transported from power generation to the end users by privatized former state telecommunications operator in the
means of overhead power line. Transmission line United Kingdom. It is the dominant fixed line
communication deals with the transmission of this telecommunications and broadband Internet provider in
electrical energy over a line. This paper deals with the the UK, and also operates in more than170countries).British
comparison of theoretical and practical variation of telecom models that are used are mainly of two types namely
transmission line primary parameters with respect to BT#0 and BT#1[10]. The former one consists of eleven
frequency and also the variation of attenuation constant parameters while the later one consists of thirteen
and phase constant for different gauge numbers with parameters. In our study of practical model we have used
respect to frequency. Thus we are attempting t o know BT#0 model and we have carried out simulations for a
the best suitable conductor Gauge for power line 0.32mm transmission line. By examining the details of
communication which (PLC) offers a convenient and how a signal is propagated from the transmitter to the
inexpensive medium for data transmission. PLC channel receiver for a number of experimental locations, a generic
model is different from the normal twisted pair and also model may be developed that highlights the important
the power line has been modeled for low frequency signals characteristics of a given indoor environment.
it has to be modeled for high frequency. This paper also
concentrates on power line communication and modeling II. Parametric Design-part1
of channel using BT#0. All the software simulations are
carried out with MATLAB tool. Variation of primary parameters and attenuation according
to the theoretical point of view. We have shown the
I.INTRODUCTION variation of various parameters with respect to
frequency. The Transmission Line is designed using a two
Power lines were originally devised to transmit electric wire line. All the formulae given below holds good for a two
power from a small number of sources (the generators) to a wire transmission line.
large number of sinks (the consumers) in the frequency (awg +3)
D = .460 * (0.890625) . (1)
range of 50-60 Hz. It is a fact that power transmission
Equation (1) shows the diameter for respective
towers and lines are some of the most robust structures ever
AWG in Inches.
built. Power line communication (PLC) can provide services
γ = α + jβ = sqrt((R + j Lω)(G + jCω)). -(2)
at any place in which electrical power is supplied. Due to
Equation (2) gives us the propagation constant in
no need for additional infrastructures, it has been vigorously
terms of the Attenuation and Phase constants which are in turn
researched in many countries for diverse applications such
dependent on the primary parameters.
as home network as an alternative technology against
l=(mc/pi)*acosh(d/2*a) (3)
wireless communication, in-vehicle communications, and etc
[1] – [4]. Historically, the PLC technology has very limited g=(pi*Sigm)/acosh(d/2*a) (4)
applications but now we are witnessing the possibility of
it being acclaimed universally as a prime mode of long-haul c=(pi*Eo*Er)/acosh(d/2*a) (5)
data communication. A channel model is useful in
determining the mechanisms by which propagation in the r=1/(pi*a*skindepth*Sigm) (6)
indoor environment occurs, which in turn are useful in the
Equations (3), (4), (5) and (6) give us Inductance, transmission of data keeping only attenuation as the
conductance, capacitance and resistance respectively. prime factor.
Here mc =permeability
d=distance between the conductor.
a=Radius of the conductor.
Eo=permittivity of the material.
Er=relative permittivity.
Sigma=Conductance
Skin depth=1/(sqrt(pi*f*mc*Sigm))
From the above equations we find that the resistance is
dependent on the skin depth which in turn is dependent on the
frequency. The other primary parameters are independent
of frequency.

Figure (2) plot of attenuation vs. frequency for (AWG 6)

III. British Telecom BT#0 PART-2

We have adapted the British t e l e c o m model #0 (

Figure (1) plot of resistance vs. frequency
In figure (1) we have shown the variation of the
resistance with respect to frequency. We observe that
the resistance increases in a non linear fashion as the
frequency increases. The above figure is simulated in
MATLAB with respect to eqn.6. In order to know
which of the gauges is best suited for the
transmission lines we have studied the attenuation
phenomena of these gauges with respect to frequency.
We have shown the theoretical variation in attenuation
for various gauges in figure (2) and figure (3). From
the above figures we find that the attenuation
increases as the gauge number increases that is with
the gauge number o f 6 the attenuation varies from
.3 to .8. neper/m. while gauge number of 18 gives
the attenuation variation from 0.8 to1.6 neper/m.
Effectively we conclude that it is advisable to use
lower gauge transmission lines for efficient
BT #0) for our study. This model gives us the variation of
resistance inductance, conductance and capacitance from a
practical point of view. Empirical formulae are designed for
this model. They are as given below.
R(f)=(Roc^4+ac*f^2)^(.25) (8)
L(f)=(Lo+Lq*(f/fm)^b)/(1+Lq*(f/fm)^b)
---- (9)
G (f)=Go*f^Ge (10)
C (f) =Cq+Co*f^(-Ce) (11)
The above equations make use of 11 parameters namely Roc
,ac ,Lo ,Lq ,Fm ,b,Go , Ge , Co ,Cq , Ce which are specified
for various gauges according to the British model. Roc, Co,
Go, Lo are the Dc values of Resistance, capacitance,
conductance and inductance respectively. ac is the skin
depth factor which controls the resistance characteristics at
higher frequencies while fm and b are the factors which
control the inductance characteristics at higher frequencies.
Lq is the value of the inductance at the highest most
frequency.
 Figure (3) attenuation vs. frequency for (AWG18) Figure (5) Inductance vs. frequency

According to figure (4) we come to know the practical Similarly figure (6) gives us the variation of conductance
variation of resistance for a0.32 mm transmission line is with respect to frequency for a .32 mm transmission line
non-linear at the lower frequencies and then steadily keeps according to BT#0 model where we note that the
on increasing. Figure (5) gives us the practical variation of conductance progressively increases with respect to
inductance with respect to frequency we note that the frequency unlike the theoretical model where conductance of
inductance keeps on decreasing progressively at higher a two wire transmission line which is independent of
frequencies unlike its theoretical counterpart where frequency.
inductance was independent of frequency. We thus conclude
from this graph that the variation in inductance is remarkably
different from the theoretical value where it was independent
of frequency. This makes us dwell on the practical aspect of
two wire transmission line which is quite different from the
theoretical two wire transmission line.

Figure (6) Conductance vs. frequency

IV. CONCLUSION

In effect we find out that for power line communication the

Figure (4) resistance vs. frequency most effective wire gauges is of the range 18 to 22 as this
is the most suitable gauge where attenuation can be kept to a
minimum level and also the diameter is wide enough for [6] A.Majumder and J.J.Caffery, “Power line
information to pass through. Secondly we observe that there communications,” IEEE Potentials, pp. 4–8,
is a huge difference in the variation of primary parameters Nov. 2004.
(that is resistance, inductance, capacitance and conductance)
of a two wire transmission line with respect to frequency
when we consider the theoretical and practical perspective.
These differences in the parameters prompt us to delve into [7] A. Baid, “Opening up powerful lines Of
these variations in much more detail so that the practical communication,” IEEE Potentials, pp. 41–45,
aspects can be further improved and transmission of signals Dec. 2005.
can be much more efficient.

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