Branch Effects on Channel Capacity for Broadband Power-Line Communications

In this paper, a simplified method for channel capacity estimation has been derived based on the transmission-line theory under the condition of high-bandwidth utilization. This method decouples the channel capacity into several independent components which may help to investigate the effects of backbone and branch, respectively. Analysis of backbone effects with respect to the available bandwidth reveals the applicable condition for the simplified method. Single branch effects are investigated considering branch length together with the loads. Besides, coupling effects caused by branch interactions are studied in a statistical way. The simulation results show great consistencies by using the proposed method and the conventional one and reveal the way that branches affect the channel capacity in different power networks.