Coupling for Power Line Communications: A Survey

Adebisi, B ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9071-9120 (2017) Coupling for Power Line Communications: A Survey. Journal of Communication and Information Systems, 31 (1). pp. 8-22. ISSN 1980-6604

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Abstract

The advent of power line communication (PLC) for smart grids, vehicular communications, internet of things and data network access has recently gained ample interest in industry and academia. Due to the characteristics of electric power grids and regulatory constraints, the effectiveness of coupling between the power line and PLC transceivers has become a very important issue. Coupling devices used to inject or extract data communication signals into or from power lines are very important components of a PLC system. There is, however, an obvious gap in the literature for a detailed review of existing PLC couplers. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of couplers, which are required for narrowband and broadband PLC transceivers. Prevailing issues that protract the design of couplers and consequently subtended the inventions of different types of couplers are clearly described. We also provide a useful classification of PLC couplers based on the type of physical couplings, voltage levels, frequency bandwidth, propagation modes and a number of connections. This survey will guide researchers, as well as designers alike, into a quicker resourcing when studying coupling in narrowband and broadband PLC systems.