Simulation of a power line communication system in medium and low voltage distribution networks

The aim of the paper is to study the influence of the power transformer on signal transmission in the case of a power line communication (PLC) system in a overhead Medium Voltage (MV) power network. A model of the PLC system was carried out by means of the Simulink® software. A distributed parameter MV overhead line, two power transformers, the signal coupling interface of a ST7540 FSK powerline transceiver were included in the model. The performances of the complete PLC communication system are evaluated for different line lengths by means of the attenuation computed as ratio between the received and transmitted voltage signals.