INVESTIGATION OF FEED LINE EFFECTS ON FIELDS FROM BROADBAND OVER POWER LINE COMMUNICATIONS

With the advent of broadband over power line (BPL) for high-speed data transmission and the emerging interest in grid modernization, the appeal of signal transmission on a power line above the earth is significant. One important issue is the nature of the fields in the vicinity of the power line, since regulatory agencies (such as the FCC) place restrictions on the field level. Models used in previous studies have yet to include the influences of the feed lines that carry the radiofrequency currents from the electronics to the power lines. In the present work reported in this dissertation, the field surrounding the feeding structure and power lines over an earth is examined. Different feeding methods and earth models are used in the investigation, ranging from very simple to more sophisticated. In the simplest approach, the earth is modeled as a perfect conductor, and image theory is used. A more sophisticated approach uses the spectral domain immittance method to account for the finite conductivity of the earth. Results allow for the identification of the mechanisms involved with the field emission as well as a determination of the maximum power level of a BPL source that will meet existing FCC guidelines.