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TRANSMISSION LINES
INTRODUCTION
R.F. Energy of a transmitter is guided up to radiator (mast) by the propagation of Transverse Electro-magnetic waves along systems of parallel conductors called Transmission lines or feeder lines. The input energy is stored in the field of conductors and is propagated along the system at some finite velocity. It is essential to keep the antenna at a distance from transmitter due to prevent Radiation hazard pick up from antenna and consequent problem with transmitter circuit Normally this distance is either on 50 V/m field strength contour or minimum half the wavelength at frequency of operation.

The feeder line should carry the power from the transmitter to Antenna with Minimum loss Minimum radiation.

BASIC TRANSMISSION LINES

There are three types of transmission lines used at RF. They are : (i) (ii) (iii) Open wire feeder lines Co-axial feeder lines Wave guides

Characteristics Impedance Of Feeder Lines Characteristics impedance (Zo) is defined as the input impedance of an infinite line. This is determined wholly by the geometry of its cross section. A transmission line can be represented as having R, L,C.

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Fig. 1 Zo of a Feeder Line The inductance, resistance, capacitance and conductance of the line determine the characteristics impedance. This is shown in the figure 1. G is the conductance of the line. The characteristic impedance is given by the following basic formula
Zo = R + jL G + jC L C

At higher frequencie s R & G becomes negligible with respect to reac tan ces of L & C. There fore Zo

The characteristics impedance can be lowered or increased depending on some specific requirement by varying the above two parameters. a) To obtain a lower Zo than designed, follow as under : b) Increase conductor size maintaining the same Conductor to conductor distance. Decrease distance between conductor for same conductor size. Increase no. of wires in each side. Parallel two or more feeders Connect lumped shunt capacitors across the line at equal distances.

To increase the impedance opposite of above is done.

TYPES OF FEEDER LINES

1. On basis of circuit, they are : 2. Balanced lines : Where there are equal and opposite potential in both wires. Unbalanced lines : Here one wire is at high potential and the other side is at low potential.

Structurally there are two basic forms : (I) Open wire line (ii) Enclosed line.

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Transmission Line

Open wire feeder lines

Z 0 = 276 log 2 S / d
d S

In MW band, normally the feeder lines used are unbalanced and has following characteristics. 6 wires, 230 Ohms 16 wires, 120 Ohms 24 wires, 60 Ohms In SW, normally the balanced feeder lines are used. The impedances are 300 ohms, 4 wire 600 ohms, 2 wire

3.

Basic Applications of feeder line :

To guide energy from transmitter to Antenna. In this mode energy move along the lines in a single travelling wave. For Storing energy in excess of that dissipated in load, in the form of standing waves.

LOSSES IN THE FEEDER LINES

There are four types of losses. They are : Copper Loss R.F. Wave travels along the exterior of a conductor due to skin effect. The conductor gets heated up resulting in losses in the feeder line. It can be reduced by increasing the radius of conductor and also by using more no. of wires in parallel. It is directly proportional to square root of frequency, so higher the frequency, more the losses. STI(T) Publication 147 004/IC(Radio)/2001 Copper Loss : It is due to the heating of conductor. Earth Loss : It arises due to imperfect earth conductivity. Insulation Loss : It is due to insulation loss and is minor in a well designed system. Radiation Loss : It is due to irregularity and usually very small for well designed lines.

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Earth Loss In unbalanced open wire lines there is division of charges between ground wires and that induced in the earth under feeder lines resulting in part of the return current in the ground. The rotation of return current in the grounded wires and to the total current in live wires decides earth losses. It can be reduced by laying two nos. of copper wires in the ground through out the length of feeder wire line and by increasing the height. Radiation Loss One cause of radiation from open lines is from the vertical connections at the ends. Decreasing the height can reduce it, but if height is decreased, the ground losses will increase. So best way-out is to use better shielding of high potential wires by using greater number of ground wires.

CHOICE OF FEEDER LINE IMPEDANCE

When the feeder line impedance is chosen low, feeder current will be more, resulting increase in copper loss and earth loss. When feeder line impedance is high, feeder voltage will be high resulting in the use of higher voltage rating insulators. So the choice depends upon the availability of components and technology in use. In AIR, following types of feeder lines are used. 230 ohm 6 wire (open wire) lines for all old 100 kW as well as 10/20 kW. 60 ohm quasi coaxial feeder line - megawatt of Chinsuraha, Rajkot and Nagpur. 120 ohm quasi coaxial feeder - all 300 kW and all 100/200 kW new version.

120 ohm feeder line is now standardised for modern transmitters. 230 OHMS COPPER WIRE FEEDER LINE This type of feeder line is most popular and has been used in all old installations of 10/20/100 kW/MW XTRs. There are total 6 wire (8 SWG, app 4.064 mm). Two inner are on high potential and four outer are ground conductors Quasi Coaxial Feeder Line In this category of line normally there are two designs : In which there are 8 inner wires and 8 outer wires each of 8 SWG. This has been used in all 100/200/300 kW XTRs. In which there are 12 inner conductors of 6 mm dia and 16 screen conductors of 8 SWG and this has been used at 1000 kW Nagpur, Calcutta (Chinsuraha) and Rajkot. 148 004/IC(Radio)/2001

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Transmission Line

Measurement Of Characteristic Impedance, Zo Zo of a feeder line is given by the relation

Zo = Z oc .Z sc

Zoc = Open circuit Impedance, measured at input by keeping the feeder line end open Zsc = Short circuit Impedance, measured at input by keeping the feeder line end short Generally Zoc & Zsc are either capacitive or inductive depending upon the length of feeder line as multiple of /4. Zoc & Zsc can be measured with VIM or RF bridge by keeping the line open and shorting high potential wire (inner) with ground wire (outer) at other end. Another method utilises the fact that when the feeder line is terminated by its characteristic impedance, its input impedance is equal to the characteristic impedance. Input impedance is measured for various termination. The characteristic impedance is equal to that termination for which input impedance is same as the termination itself.

POWER TRANSMISSION CAPACITY OF FEEDER LINE

The power handling capacity of a line depends upon : Nos. of live wires used in parallel. The charge density per unit surface of the wire. Maximum allowable potential gradient to avoid flashover, and corona etc.

Power handling capacity of a line (120 ) is calculated as below : RF Current carrying capacity of copper conductor x dia of live conductor in inches = 76.2 x .1574 = 10 Amp. For 8 wires total current is = 10 x 8 = 80 Amp. Therefore, power handling capacity = I2 x R = (80)2 x 120 = 768 kW say, 760 kW. In practice, the maximum voltage that a line can handle/withstand with out flashover etc. is 80% of the D.C. Value of max. voltage.

PRECAUTION WHILE ERECTING A FEEDER LINE

Bends should be gradual and free of any sharp corners (preferably of 120 or so). The exact and equal length of wires should be used at bends. To keep the length same is more important than to maintain the equal spacing as it increases the series inductance of line. The poles should be placed at equal distance and symmetrically (app. 15 mtr), Splitting joints should be smooth and free of any irregularity. The height above ground should be uniform otherwise ground return current will differ, varying the earth losses.
o

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