{ "cells": [ { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "# Transmission Line Losses on a Loaded Lossy Line " ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "When dealing with RF power, for instance in radio, industry or scientific applications, a recurrent problem is to handle the inevitable RF losses correctly to avoid overheating of cables and components. \n", "\n", "## Matched Load\n", "In this example, we will use `scikit-rf` to evaluate the losses in a 50 Ohm, 20 meters long, RG-8 cable (VF=0.84) charged with a resistive load $R_L=50\\Omega$ at 13.56 MHz. The cable losses are estimated to 1.483 dB/100 meters and the source power to 400W. \n" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "First, the usual Python imports:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "%matplotlib inline" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "import numpy as np\n", "\n", "import skrf as rf" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "rf.stylely()" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "Let's define the problem constants:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "Pin = 400 # W\n", "z0 = 50 # Ohm\n", "freq = rf.Frequency(13.56, npoints=1, unit='MHz')\n", "VF = 0.84\n", "RL = 50 # Ohm\n", "L = 20 # m" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "The propagation constant of the transmission line $\\gamma=\\alpha+j\\beta$ is: " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "alpha = rf.db_2_np(1.483/100) # Np/m\n", "beta = freq.w/rf.c/VF\n", "gamma = alpha + 1j*beta" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "The matched line loss (or power attenuation), $a=e^{2\\alpha L}$, is: " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "a = np.exp(2*alpha*L) # also simply 2.84/100*20\n", "print('Matched line loss: a=', rf.mag_2_db10(a), 'dB')" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "If the line is charged with a matched load, ie. $R_L=50\\Omega$, then the total line loss is $a$. The power lost in the cable will thus be:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "print('(Forward) Power delivered to the load:', Pin/a, 'W')\n", "print('Power lost in the cable:', Pin *( 1 - 1/a), 'W')" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "Which can also be checked by the `scikit-rf` transmission line function `zl_2_total_loss`: " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "a_skrf = rf.zl_2_total_loss(z0, zl=RL, theta=gamma*L)\n", "print('Power lost in the cable:',\n", " Pin * (1 - 1/a_skrf), 'W')" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "Another way to evaluate the total power dissipated in the circuit is to evaluate the power expression:\n", "\n", "$$\n", "P_{delivered} = \\frac{1}{2} \\Re \\left[ V I^* \\right]\n", "$$\n", "\n", "where $V$ and $I$ are the (peak) total voltage and current. They can be evaluate using the transmission line function `voltage_current_propagation`:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "# reflection coefficient and input impedance\n", "Gamma_in = rf.zl_2_Gamma_in(z0, RL, theta=gamma*L)\n", "Z_in = rf.zl_2_zin(z0, RL, theta=gamma*L)\n", "\n", "# voltage and current at the line input as a function of source power\n", "V_in = np.sqrt(2*z0*Pin)*(1 + Gamma_in)\n", "I_in = V_in/Z_in\n", "\n", "# voltage and current at z=L\n", "V,I = rf.voltage_current_propagation(V_in, I_in, z0, gamma*L)\n", "P_delivered = 1/2 * np.real(V * np.conj(I))\n", "print('Power delivered to the load: ', P_delivered, 'W')\n", "print('Power dissipated in the cable: ',Pin - P_delivered, 'W')" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "## Non Matched load" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "However, if the load is not perfectly matched to the line characteristic impedance $z_0$, for example with $R_L=200 + 30j\\Omega$, additional losses are induced by the reflected wave. The reflection coefficient $\\Gamma_{load}$ induced by this load is:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "z0 = 50\n", "ZL = 200 - 30j\n", "Gamma_load = rf.zl_2_Gamma0(z0, ZL)\n", "print('|Gamma_load|=', np.abs(Gamma_load))" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "while the reflection coefficient seen at the input of the transmission line $\\Gamma_{in}$ is: " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "Gamma_in = rf.zl_2_Gamma_in(z0, ZL, theta=gamma*L)\n", "SWR = rf.Gamma0_2_swr(rf.zl_2_Gamma_in(z0, ZL, theta=gamma*L))\n", "print('|Gamma_in|=', np.abs(Gamma_in), '(SWR=', SWR,')')" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "The total loss in dB due to SWR is often stated as:\n", "$$\n", "a_{[dB]} + 10 \\log_{10} \\frac{1 - |\\Gamma_{in}|^2}{1 - |\\Gamma_{load}|^2}\n", "$$" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "10*np.log10(a) + 10*np.log10((1 - np.abs(Gamma_in)**2)/(1 - np.abs(Gamma_load)**2))" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "However, this expression is only correct if either properties are verified:\n", "- (i) the characteristic impedance of the line is real (distorsionless line) \n", "- (ii) reflection coefficient is real (ie real $Z_L/Z_0$) [1]. \n", "\n", "The 1st condition is met here, however it will not be the case in the next section. \n", "\n", "Anyway, the `scikit-rf` transmission line function `zl_2_total_loss` is correct in all conditions:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "a = rf.zl_2_total_loss(z0, zl=ZL, theta=gamma * L)\n", "print('Total power loss: ', rf.mag_2_db10(a), 'dB' )\n", "print('Delivered power:', Pin/a, 'W')\n", "print('The total power loss is the cable:', Pin*(1 - 1/a), 'W')" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "# reflection coefficient and input impedance\n", "Gamma_in = rf.zl_2_Gamma_in(z0, ZL, theta=gamma*L)\n", "Z_in = rf.zl_2_zin(z0, ZL, theta=gamma*L)\n", "\n", "# voltage and current at the line input as a function of source power\n", "V_in = np.sqrt(2*z0*Pin)*(1 + Gamma_in)\n", "I_in = V_in/Z_in\n", "\n", "# voltage and current at z=L\n", "V,I = rf.voltage_current_propagation(V_in, I_in, z0, gamma*L)\n", "P_delivered = 1/2 * np.real(V * np.conj(I))\n", "print('Power delivered to the load: ', P_delivered, 'W')\n", "print('Power dissipated in the cable: ',Pin - P_delivered, 'W')" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "rf.Gamma0_2_swr(Gamma_in)" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "10*np.log10(P_delivered/Pin)" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "## A more advanced example\n", "This example reproduces the example presented in reference [1].\n", "\n", "Let's assume a coaxial line ([Wireman #551, 450-Ohm](https://thewireman.com/antennap.html)) loaded with a complex load $Z_L=R_L + jX_L$, with the following parameters: \n", " - line length: 100 feet\n", " - frequency: 1.83 MHz\n", " - [attenuation constant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propagation_constant#Attenuation_constant): $\\alpha=$ 0.095 dB/100 feet\n", " - coaxial relative permittivity: $\\epsilon_r=1.194$ ([Velocity Factor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity_factor) VF=0.915)\n", " - real part of the characteristic impedance: $R_0 = \\Re \\left[Z_0\\right]$=402.75 Ohm\n", " - Load resistance: $R_L$ = 4.5 Ohm\n", " - Load reactance: $X_L$ = -1673 Ohm\n", " " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "Z_L = 4.5 - 1673j\n", "R_0 = 402.75\n", "freq = rf.Frequency(1.83, npoints=1, unit='MHz')\n", "VF = 0.915\n", "L = rf.feet_2_meter(100)" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "First, we can derive the propagation constant $\\gamma=\\alpha+j\\beta$ with $\\beta=\\frac{\\omega}{c }\\sqrt{\\epsilon_r}$ from the problem parameters:" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "alpha = rf.db_2_np(rf.db_per_100feet_2_db_per_100meter(0.095)/100)\n", "beta = freq.w/rf.c/VF\n", "gamma = alpha + 1j*beta\n", "print(gamma)" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "However, the transmission line characteristic reactance is not given in the problem parameters and must be determined. It can be approximated from a high-frequency, low-loss approximation [1]:\n", "$$\n", "Z_0 = R_0 + j X_0 \\approx R_0 - j \\frac{\\alpha}{\\beta}R_0\n", "$$ \n", "ie,\n", "$$\n", "X_0 \\approx - \\frac{\\alpha}{\\beta}R_0\n", "$$" ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "X_0 = -alpha/beta*R_0\n", "Z_0 = R_0 + 1j*X_0\n", "print('X_0=', X_0)" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "Now that we have both the characteristic impedance and the propagation constant of the line, the reflection coefficients, input impedance and total loss can be deduced: " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [ "print('Gamma at load:', np.abs(rf.zl_2_Gamma0(Z_0, Z_L)))\n", "print('Gamma at input:', np.abs(rf.zl_2_Gamma_in(Z_0, Z_L, theta=gamma*L)))\n", "print('SWR at load:', rf.Gamma0_2_swr(rf.zl_2_Gamma0(Z_0, Z_L)))\n", "\n", "print('SWR at input:', rf.Gamma0_2_swr(rf.zl_2_Gamma_in(Z_0, Z_L, theta=gamma*L)))\n", "print('Input impedance:', rf.input_impedance_at_theta(Z_0, Z_L, theta=gamma*L ), 'Ohm')\n", "\n", "total_loss_db = rf.mag_2_db10(np.abs(rf.zl_2_total_loss(z0=Z_0, zl=Z_L, theta=gamma*L)))\n", "print('Total loss:', total_loss_db, 'dB')" ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "which match the results presented in reference [1]." ] }, { "cell_type": "markdown", "metadata": {}, "source": [ "## References\n", " - [1] Steve Stearns (K6OIK), A Transmission Line Power Paradox and Its Resolution, ARRL Pacificon Antenna Seminar, Santa Clara, CA October 10-12, 2014: https://www.fars.k6ya.org/docs/K6OIK-A_Transmission_Line_Power_Paradox_and_Its_Resolution.pdf\n", " " ] }, { "cell_type": "code", "execution_count": null, "metadata": {}, "outputs": [], "source": [] } ], "metadata": { "kernelspec": { "display_name": "Python 3", "language": "python", "name": "python3" }, "language_info": { "codemirror_mode": { "name": "ipython", "version": 3 }, "file_extension": ".py", "mimetype": "text/x-python", "name": "python", "nbconvert_exporter": "python", "pygments_lexer": "ipython3", "version": "3.7.5" } }, "nbformat": 4, "nbformat_minor": 2 }