Commissioning

Handbook

Medium Wave Antenna System

1071 kHz / 1000 kW

Omni directional /directional An-
tenna system

Rajkot transmitting station

Version 1.0
 Commissioning handbook

Record of changes

Version Date Issued by Comments

1.0 2010-07-15 H. Weinand Draft

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 Commissioning handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 SYSTEM DISCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Antenna Tuning Unit (ATU) Layout .......................................................................... 5
1.2 Radiation Pattern Characteristics ............................................................................. 8
1.3 Component Settings ............................................................................................... 11
1.4 Sparc Gap Settings ................................................................................................ 12
1.5 Procedure of Commissioning ................................................................................. 13

A APPENDIX........................................................................................................................ 15
A1 Adjustment of Capacitors ....................................................................................... 15
A2 Adjustment of Inudctors (Coils) .............................................................................. 17

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1 SYSTEM DISCRIPTION

General Information

Fig. 1: A.I.R. Station Rajkot - Layout

The radiation patterns as well as the ATU circuit layout shown hereafter are based on
the antenna layout as shown in Fig.1.

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1.1 ANTENNA TUNING UNIT (ATU) LAYOUT

General Information
The ATUs – depending on the respective transmitter/antenna – are consisting of coil
and capacitor groups, including a static drain choke (coil)
The ATU components are connected by means of copper tubing of sufficient diameter
to withstand the current ratings at regular operation conditions.
All matching elements are suitably designed (i.e. with additional safety factor), to with-
stand voltages and currents at regular operation conditions taking into account 110 %
modulation.
The VSWR will be <1.05:1 at operating frequency

ATU Layout Principle

According to Fig. 2, Thomson proposes a power division and antenna mast matching
system which meets the call for tender specification requirements of
1. Omni-directional pattern from Mast 1 at full power (1000 kW carrier +110%
AM) with Mast 2, Mast 3 and Mast 4 grounded,
2. omni-directional pattern from Mast 1 at full power (1000 kW carrier +
110% positive modulation) with Mast 2, Mast3 and Mast 4 grounded,
3. directional pattern using all four masts with equal power fed to Mast 1
and Mast 2, with Mast 3 and Mast 4 detuned (operating as passive reflec-
tors)

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Fig. 2: ATU and feeding system - Layout

ATU Circuit Description

The required radiation pattern (refer also to Fig. 3) can be realised by direct feeding of
Mast 1 [L1.1, L2.1, C1.1,] and Mast2 [L1.2, L2.2, C1.1] via a 120 Ohm feeder line,
whereas Masts 3 and 4 are operated as passive reflectors with tunable reactance
(coil) at the base.
According to the calculations, only one reactance [i.e. L1.3, L1.4] is required to obtain
the specified radiation pattern.
Since the required pattern is symmetrical with regard to the mast layout, the circuits of
Mast 1 and 2 are identical, as well as the circuits of Mast 3 and Mast 4.
Further simplification of the ATU circuits is done by retaining the same matching circuit
for the directional and omni-directional cases. This means that only the mast grounding
switches are required to be operated when changing pattern.
The matching circuits of Mast 1 and 2 are designed to accurately match the
mast to the 120 ohm feeder for the omni-directional pattern (1000 kW fed to one
mast); the resulting VSWR at the feeder will be very low.
The operating impedance of Mast1 and 2 in the directional configuration is different
from the omni-directional case and the matching circuits will no longer provide a good
match to the 120 ohm incoming feeder, thus resulting in a higher VSWR (≤ 1.8); how-

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ever, the power in the feeder is only 500 kW instead of 1000 kW for the omni-directional
case.
The power splitter has two functions:
1. To transfer power either to Mast 1 or 2 in the omni-directional case.
2. To transfer power to Mast 1 and 2 in the directional case.
The power splitter respectively the main matching system, installed in the branching
hut will perform matching functions to ensure good VSWR through the switching sys-
tem in the omni-directional [L1o, C1o, L2o] and directional operation mode [L1d, C1d,
L2d] to the 60 Ohm main feeder line.
In the directional operation mode, the feeding parameters for Mast 1 as well as for
Mast 2 are identical, therefore feeder line lengths from branching hut antenna cabin 1
(Mast 1) and cabin 2 (Mast 2) must be the same in order to avoid additional phasing
which will affect required radiation pattern and matching.

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1.2 RADIATION PATTERN CHARACTERISTICS

The calculated radiations pattern are based on the following assumptions

Directional Antenna System (Fig. 3)

Two antennas fed, Mast 1 and 2
Two antennas detuned, non-fed, Mast 3 and 4
Main bearing: 300° ETN
Frequency: 1071 kHz
Power: 1,000 kW + 110%AM

Fig. 3: Horizontal directional radiation pattern

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Omni-directional Antenna System

One antenna fed (Mast 1), Mast 2, 3 and 4 grounded
(Refer to Fig. 4.1)
One antenna fed (Mast 2), Mast 1, 3 and 4 grounded
(Refer to Fig. 4.2)
Main bearing : omni-directional
Power: 1000 kW + 110%AM (per antenna)

Fig. 4.1: Horizontal “omni-directional” radiation pattern

(Mast 1 fed, Masts 2, 3 and 4 grounded)

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Fig. 4.2: Horizontal “omni-directional” radiation pattern

(Mast 2 fed, Masts 1, 3 and 4 grounded)

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1.3 COMPONENT SETTINGS

The following table lists the calculated element setting serving as a starting point for the
commissioning.

Element Location Element Setting

L1.1 Antenna Cabin Mast 1 37.0 μH

L2.1 Antenna Cabin Mast 1 21.3 μH

C1.1 Antenna Cabin Mast 1 2005 pF

L1.2 Antenna Cabin Mast 2 37.0 μH

L2.2 Antenna Cabin Mast 2 21.3 μH

C1.2 Antenna Cabin Mast 2 21.3 μH

L1.3 Antenna Cabin Mast 3 75.0 μH

L1.4 Antenna Cabin Mast 4 75.0 μH

L2d Main cabin 9.13 μH

C1d Main cabin 1976 pF

L1d Main cabin 7.93 μH

L2o Main cabin 6.93 μH

C1o Main cabin 1645 pF

L1o Main cabin 10.2 μH

Table 1: Settings of tuning elements

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1.4 SPARK GAP SETTINGS

The calculated voltages listed below are peak voltages including 110% AM.

Location Voltage in kV Spacing in mm

Antenna cabin mast 1,output to mast 90.0

Antenna cabin mast 1, feeder input 32.6 16

Antenna cabin mast 2,output to Mast 90.0

Antenna cabin mast 2, feeder input 32.6 16

Antenna cabin mast 3 41.3 22

Antenna cabin mast 4 41.3 22

Main cabin, output to mast 1 32.6 16

Main cabin, output to mast 1 32.6 16

Main cabin, feeder input 23.1 11

Table 2: Spark Gap Settings

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1.5 PROCEDURE OF COMMISSIONING

The procedures of how to adjust the capacitor and inductors are given in A 1 and A 2 of
this document.

Omni directional operation on mast 1:

The masts 2, 3 and 4 have to be grounded at the base using the ground switches.
The elements L1.1, L2.1 and C1.1 according to Fig. 2 should be set to value listed in
table 1. If the measured impedance at the input of the cabin is different from 120 +- j0
Ohm, the elements have to be adjusted to achieve 120 +- j0 Ohm at the input.
Note: It is important for the directional operation to achieve matching for the omni-
directional case and simultaneously equal phasing between input and output of the
matching circuits at mast 1 and mast 2.
In the main matching unit the tuning elements L1o, C1o and L2o according to Fig. 2
should be set to value listed in table 1. If the measured impedance at the input of the
cabin is different from 60 +- j0 Ohm, the elements have to be adjusted to achieve 60 +-
j0 Ohm at the input.

Omni directional operation on mast 2:

The masts 1, 3 and 4 have to be grounded at the base using the ground switches.
The elements L1.2, L2.2 and C1.2 according to Fig. 2 should be set to value listed in
table 1. If the measured impedance at the input of the cabin is different from 120 +- j0
Ohm, the elements have to be adjusted to achieve 120 +- j0 Ohm at the input.
Note: It is important for the directional operation to achieve matching for the omni-
directional case and simultaneously equal phasing between input and output of the
matching circuits at mast 1 and mast 2.
In the main matching unit the tuning elements L1o, C1o and L2o are already adjusted
to achieve matching to the 60 Ohm feeder.

Directional operation:
The tuning elements in the cabins of mast 1 and mast 2 remain untouched. The read-
ing from the POTOMAC instrument to control the feeding signal (magnitude and phase)
must be equal as described in the previous section.
The inductors in the cabins of mast 3, L1.3, and of mast 4, L1.4, should be set to the
value listed in table 1.
In the main matching unit the tuning elements L1d, C1d and L2d according to Fig. 2
should be set to value listed in table 1. If the measured impedance at the input of the

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cabin is different from 60 +- j0 Ohm, the elements have to be adjusted to achieve 60 +-

j0 Ohm at the input.

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A APPENDIX

A1 ADJUSTMENT OF CAPACITORS
Capacitors C1o and C1d
Note: It is important to set both variable capacitors to the same value. As a starting
point both capacitors should be set to minimum or maximum capacity, which means
they should both be turned to one mechanical end position. For the further adjustment
process both capacitors should adjusted using the same number of turns.

Adjusting
cap

Fig. 5:

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Capacitors C1.1 and C1.2

Adjusting
cap

Fig. 6:

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A2 ADJUSTMENT OF INUDCTORS (COILS)

To adjust the inductors shorting strips

are used. These strips can be placed
at any arbitrary point on the inductor
windings.
The more windings are shorted the
lower the inductivity of the inductor.

Fig. 7a:

For fine tuning two strips can be used

according to Fig. 7b. One strip is
fixed and the other one is move with
respect to the fixed one.

Fig. 7b:

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