Investigation of current variation effect on PLC channel characteristics of low-voltage high power busbar systems

This paper aims to analyze communication characteristics of the high current low-voltage (LV) busbar systems in 1-50 MHz frequency range due to the fact that busbar as an integrated part of the overall Power Line Communications (PLC) channel, it is necessary to investigate its communication characteristics. Firstly, the modeling of a compact structure LV busbar system is described. Then, this system carried out by an Electromagnetic (EM) analysis simulation tool based on methods of moments (MoM). Channel characteristics are obtained based on scattering parameters (S parameters) for the unit length (3 m) busbars. Characteristic impedances (Zc) are obtained approximately 22 Ω, 18 Ω, 14 Ω, 11.5 Ω and 9.7 Ω for different busbars that have 1000 A, 1250 A, 1600 A, 2000 A and 2250 A current levels, respectively. On the other hand, the busbar length is changed as 3 m, 6 m, 9m and 12 m. The resonance frequencies for these lengths are calculated 33 MHz, 16 MHz, 11 MHz and 8 MHz, respectively. The results are given both graphical and numerical forms.