Dr. A.G. Lazaropoulos (National Technical University of Athens, Greece) has proved that the techno-economic pedagogical (TEP) method is applicable for designing Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) networks. As a newly developed tool, TEP method demonstrated to undergraduate electrical and computer engineering students the behaviour of overhead low-voltage and medium-voltage/broadband over power lines networks. (Trends in Renewable Energy, vol. 1, pp. 59-86. doi:10.17737/tre.2015.1.2.006)
Previous teaching methods like the hybrid method showed high complexity and required students have extensive knowledge. When being transferred into the straightforward TEP method through linear simplifications, this new method promotes the interaction between Microwave Engineering and Circuit/System Engineering courses facilitating the understanding of students.
Besides the educational value of this work, it has been demonstrated that the broadband transmission capability of such networks depends on some important factors, such as frequency, overhead configuration, the end-to-end distance and number, electrical length, terminations, etc. “…students realize that overhead distribution power lines can operate as a promising broadband last mile technology permitting the further exploitation of overhead BPL bandwidth regardless of the overhead power grid type and the overhead power grid topology”, said Lazaropoulos.
Contact: Dr. Athanasios G. Lazaropoulos Email:AGLazaropoulos@gmail.com. More information: http://futureenergysp.com/index.php/tre/article/view/6.