Antenna Tuning Unit

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 ver close to the mast base. !ommonl "#eeder
Unit$ which is located in the aerial field% houses the ATU.
&enerall the mast impedance (aerial impedance) is obtained in a complex form i.e. the
real part (resistive) and the imaginar 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 (). 'f the height is less than ()% it will be capacitive and inductive if more than
(). This can be measured with impedance bridges.
ATU can be designed in a number of was. The method used ma be different in
different conditions. !riteria depends on the re*uirements. +speciall when directional
antenna sstem is emploed b splitting power to different antenna% the phase angle of
the networ, is the most important parameter. 'n other cases mostl% simplicit and safet
against lightning is important. -ne of the methods adopted in the past was the reactive
component of the mast impedance is neutralised% b putting opposite reactive
component of same value in series at mast end side% to ma,e the mast impedance
purel 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 b selecting a suitable matching networ,. This matching networ, can be
.% T or networ,% and can be designed as phase lag or phase lead tpe. 'n these cases
if a capacitor is put in series% there is ever possibilit of puncturing of capacitors due to
lightning. /ence this method is being discouraged.
The second method% which is most commonl 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 formula0 1
ST'(T) 2ublication 343 55)('!(6adio)(7558
Induction Course (Radio)
( ) ( )
7
6s ( 9s 3 6s 6p + =
( )
( ) ( )
( )
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
6p ( 9p
9p 9s
% 9s ( 6s 9s 9p %
9p ( 6p
6p 6s
+
=
+ =

+
=
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 reactance:s which are e*ual but opposite in polarit resonate and offer pure
resistance. #urther this resistance 6p can be matched to the feeder line with the help of
an networ,. 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 lea,s for the lightning. This will eliminate the separate
provision of static lea,s. ;esides the coils being sturd will be a more appropriate
solution for lightning protection.
The third method emploed is shunting the mast impedance with a high < coil
irrespective of whether the mast is inductive or capacitive. This will alter the net
impedance offered b the antenna and can be manipulated to the desired value b
varing the inductive reactance. 'n 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 networ,. This method is often ,nown as 2re1Tuning.
Design of L Pi & T Networs
L Networs
. networ,s consists of two elements of reactance. 't could be inductance and
capacitance in an combination .1!% .1.% !1.% !1!. The networ, can be in the shape of
=.: or inverted =.: depending on impedance at the input and at output. 'f inductive
reactance comes in series arm it is a lagging networ, and when it is capacitive it is
leading.
ST'(T) 2ublication 347 55)('!(6adio)(7558
Antenna Tuning Unit
i. P!ase lag "#in $ #L%
#ig. 7
ii. P!ase lag "#L $ #in%
#ig. >
iii. P!ase lead "#in $ #L%
#ig. )
iv. P!ase lead "#L $ #in%
#ig. 4
=.: networ,s are simple to implement and component losses are less. 2hase angle
introduced is e*ual to
.
in
6
6
!os . Therefore phase control is not possible with this
networ,.
ST'(T) 2ublication 34> 55)('!(6adio)(7558
Rin RL
XL
XC
Rin RL
XL
XC
Rin RL XL
XC
Rin RL XL
XC
L in
L
in C
L in L L
R R
R
R X
R R R X

=
= ) (
in L
in
L C
in L in L
R R
R
R X
R R R X

=
= ) (
) (
L in L C
L in
L
in L
R R R X
R R
R
R X
=

=
) (
in L in C
in L
in
L L
R R R X
R R
R
R X
=

=
Induction Course (Radio)
Pi Networs
2' ?etwor,s can be designed in number of was li,e
; assuming phase shift
; assuming the < factor
; splitting the networ, as two ".$ networ,s
&' assu(ing P!ase s!ift

#ind the ratio n @ 63(67

Assume the phase angle from 5 to 3A5
6
3
9
c
6
7
9
;
9
A
Fig. ) Pi Networ
Then
a *

sin n
!os n
+ *

Sin . n
3
c *

Sin . n
!os . n 3
Then 9A @ 67(a 9; @ 67(b 9! @ 67(c
'n the above case for all phase angles the 9; shall be positive and hence inductive % 9A
shall be negative and hence capacitive. Where as 9! could be positve(negative
depending on phase angle selected.

#or

some values of phase angle 2i networ,
becomes . networ,.
&' ,ssu(ing -&
ST'(T) 2ublication 34) 55)('!(6adio)(7558
Antenna Tuning Unit
#or Stabilit 9;
7
63 . 67
Then %


2 1
6 ( 6
) 9 9 ( 9
) 9 9 ( 9
; A !
! ; A
=
+
+
9A @ 1
2
2 1 1
1
;
;
9 6 . 6 6
9 . 6
+
-C * .
2
2 1 2
2
;
;
9 6 . 6 6
9 . 6
+

2i networ,s are flexible and can be designed for an phase shift. The can act as ver
good fitters to suppress harmonics.
T Networ
'n some tpical cases where ".$ networ, is not possible it ma be necessar to design
"T$ networ,s. This can be designed as follows.
X
1
X
2
X
3
R
1
R
2
Fig. / T Networ
T ?etwor, between 63 and 67 is possibile onl if 9>
7
6367
93 @ 63 c% 97 @ 63 a % 9> @63 b
Where a @

sin n
!os n
b @ 1
Sin . n
3
c @

Sin . n
!os . n 3
ST'(T) 2ublication 344 55)('!(6adio)(7558
Induction Course (Radio)
@ 2hase shift and n @ 63(67

Some times it is possible to design "T$ networ,s with the load reactance as the 97 arm of
the above networ,. Therefore there will be onl two components in the matching
networ,s % means it is an ".$ networ,. =T: networ, can precisel control phase shifts and
can tune wide range of impedances.
ST'(T) 2ublication 348 55)('!(6adio)(7558