S-parameters-based causal RLGC(f) model of busbar distribution systems for broadband power line communication

Busbar power distribution systems are used extensively to carry energy as a noteworthy part of the low-voltage grid. In order to investigate the possibilities of a busbar system for low-voltage, broadband, power-line communication, the system is analyzed as a transmission line. For this purpose, S-parameter measurements at 1-50 MHz were conducted to represent the busbar using the frequency-dependent RLGC(f) model. The model's parameters were optimized with a two-step procedure to determine the optimal ranges of the parameters. To prove the causality of the busbar model, both time-domain and frequency-domain verifications were conducted. This points out that the model is causal and provides good agreement between simulated and measured S-parameters. The transfer characteristics of the busbar distribution network were taken out with the frequency-domain modeling approach by using the chain-scattering matrix method. The channel's performance under different network configurations, e.g., length, branch, and load, was investigated to provide a beneficial contribution for communication system designers.