5

ANTENNA TUNING UNIT

Introduction
Antenna Tuning Unit (ATU) is to match the feeder line impedance to the mast impedance of MW Transmitters for maximum transmission of power. So ATU is located between the mast base and the feeder line and is very close to the mast base. Commonly Feeder Unit which is located in the aerial field, houses the ATU. Generally the mast impedance (aerial impedance) is obtained in a complex form i.e. the real part (resistive) and the imaginary part (reactive) component. When the mast impedance is expressed in polar form then negative angle indicates the mast is capacitive and positive angle indicates the mast is inductive. Whether the mast impedance is inductive or capacitive depends on the height of the mast in terms of wave length (). If the height is less than /4, it will be capacitive and inductive if more than /4. This can be measured with impedance bridges. ATU can be designed in a number of ways. The method used may be different in different conditions. Criteria depends on the requirements. Especially when directional antenna system is employed by splitting power to different antenna, the phase angle of the network is the most important parameter. In other cases mostly, simplicity and safety against lightning is important. One of the methods adopted in the past was the reactive component of the mast impedance is neutralised, by putting opposite reactive component of same value in series at mast end side, to make the mast impedance purely resistive (i.e. for inductive mast the series reactance should be capacitive and vice versa). Then the resistive part of the mast impedance can be matched to the feeder line impedance by selecting a suitable matching network. This matching network can be L, T or network, and can be designed as phase lag or phase lead type. In these cases if a capacitor is put in series, there is every possibility of puncturing of capacitors due to lightning. Hence this method is being discouraged. The second method, which is most commonly used now, is first to convert the antenna impedance into a parallel combination. Most of the bridges used to measure the mast impedance measure it in the series form. This series impedance can be converted into a parallel impedance using the following formula: -

Induction Course (Radio)

Rp = Rs 1 + ( Xs / Rs )

)
Xp = Xs 1 + ( Rs / Xs)

1 Rs = Rp 1 + ( Rp / Xp) 2 Xs = Xp 1 1 + ( Xp / Rp )
2

),

Fig. 1 Series to Parallel Conversion After the conversion we find that the mast impedance has a resistance in parallel with a reactance which could be either capacitive or inductive. This reactance can be neutralised with the help of a reactance of same magnitude but opposite in phase. These two reactances which are equal but opposite in polarity resonate and offer pure resistance. Further this resistance Rp can be matched to the feeder line with the help of any network. The advantage of this method is that whenever the mast is capacitive we can neutralise with a parallel inductive reactance. This reactance in addition to matching, also provide a static leaks for the lightning. This will eliminate the separate provision of static leaks. Besides the coils being sturdy will be a more appropriate solution for lightning protection. The third method employed is shunting the mast impedance with a high Q coil irrespective of whether the mast is inductive or capacitive. This will alter the net impedance offered by the antenna and can be manipulated to the desired value by varying the inductive reactance. In effect the coil impedance alters the mast impedance. This method is used to bring down the higher value of mast impedance to a manageable level for designing suitable network. This method is often known as Pre-Tuning.

Design of L Pi & T Networks L Networks

L networks consists of two elements of reactance. It could be inductance and capacitance in any combination L-C, L-L, C-L, C-C. The network can be in the shape of L or inverted L depending on impedance at the input and at output. If inductive reactance comes in series arm it is a lagging network and when it is capacitive it is leading.

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Antenna Tuning Unit

i.

Phase lag (Rin > RL)

X L = R L ( Rin R L ) X C = Rin RL Rin R L
Rin XC

XL

RL

Fig. 2 ii. Phase lag (RL > Rin)

X L = Rin ( R L Rin ) X C = RL Rin R L Rin

Rin

XL

XC

RL

Fig. 3 iii. Phase lead (Rin > RL)

RL Rin R L

X L =Rin

Rin

XL

XC

RL

X C = R L ( Rin R L )

Fig. 4 iv. Phase lead (RL > Rin)

X L =RL Rin R L Rin

Rin

XC

XL

RL

X C = Rin ( R L Rin )

Fig. 5 L networks are simple to implement and component losses are less. Phase angle introduced is equal to network.

Cos

R in . Therefore phase control is not possible with this RL

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Induction Course (Radio) Pi Networks PI Networks can be designed in number of ways like By assuming phase shift By assuming the Q factor By splitting the network as two L networks

By assuming Phase shift Find the ratio n = R1/R2 Assume the phase angle from 0 to 180

XB R1 XA Xc R2

Fig. 6 Pi Network Then a =

n Cos n sin

1 n .Sin

c Then XA = R2/a

1 n .Cos n .Sin

XB = R2/b

XC = R2/c

In the above case for all phase angles the X B shall be positive and hence inductive , X A shall be negative and hence capacitive. Where as X C could be positve/negative depending on phase angle selected. For some values of phase angle Pi network becomes L network.

By Assuming XB STI(T) Publication 154 004/IC(Radio)/2004

Antenna Tuning Unit For Stability XB2 R1 . R2 Then ,

X A ( XB + X C ) = R1 / R 2 X C ( X A + XB )

XA = -

R1 .X B
2 R1 + R1.R 2 X B

XC =

R 2 .X B
2 R 2 + R1 .R 2 X B

Pi networks are flexible and can be designed for any phase shift. They can act as very good fitters to suppress harmonics.

T Network
In some typical cases where L network is not possible it may be necessary to design T networks. This can be designed as follows.
X1 X2

R1

X3

R2

Fig. 7 T Network T Network between R1 and R2 is possibile only if X32 R1R2 X1 = R1 c, X2 = R1 a , Where a b = = X3 =R1 b
n Cos n sin

1 n .Sin

1 n .Cos n .Sin

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Induction Course (Radio) = Phase shift and n = R1/R2

Some times it is possible to design T networks with the load reactance as the X 2 arm of the above network. Therefore there will be only two components in the matching networks , means it is an L network. T network can precisely control phase shifts and can tune wide range of impedances.

STI(T) Publication

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