Performance Sensitivity of a Power Line Carrier Channel

A new sensitivity model to compute the partial derivatives of the carrier channel attenuation coefficient with regard to numerous line and earth parameters, is presented. The propagation mathematical model of the voltage carrier signals takes into account the discontinuities of a lossy overhead line: it allows a fast computation of the voltage overall transition matrix and, hence, of the propagation coefficient. The propagation and sensitivity models are used to carry out the coupling connections performances of a practical non uni form horizontal line. The computed attenuation coefficients are in closer agreement with the already known experimental values. The sensitivity analysis shows the influence of some parameters on the attenuation curves as a function of frequency. Such curves are predetermined also by means of comparative-type formulae, which include the frequency sensitivity functions.