Performance analysis of energy harvesting‐enabled relay networks in κ‐μ fading channels

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the performance of an energy harvesting (EH)‐enabled multiple relay network operating over generalized ‐ fading channels. Our approach involves utilizing a partial relay selection strategy and employing an amplify and forward relay protocol for efficient EH from RF signals. Additionally, we integrate a selection combining scheme at the receiver to combine both direct and relaying path signals. In our research, we first obtain the exact closed‐form expression of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) for the system under investigation. Subsequently, we derive expressions for the outage probability (OP) and the moment generating function (MGF) using the derived CDF expression. Furthermore, with the assistance of a CDF‐based approach, we derive closed‐form expressions for the average symbol error rate (ASER) for coherent quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes, including rectangular QAM (RQAM) and hexagonal QAM (HQAM). We also analyze the ASER expression for non‐coherent frequency shift keying (NCFSK), leveraging the derived MGF expression. To gain valuable insights into the performance of EH‐enabled multiple relay networks, we assess the asymptotic expression of the OP. The outcomes indicate how the behavior of the system is affected by various factors such as time switching ratio, channel fading components, number of relays, and the distance between nodes. To corroborate the accuracy of the analytical findings, Monte Carlo simulations are executed.