DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : A.V.VENUGOPAL.
Designation : Lecturer.
Branch : ECE
Institute : G.P.W, Hindupur.
Semester : Third
Subject : Analog communication
Code : EC-305
Topic : Transmission line and
wave propagation

Sub-topic : Losses in transmission lines

Duration : 50Mts.
Teaching Aids : PPTs,Diagrams.
EC305.63 1
Objectives

Upon completion of this period, you would be able to:

• Know the types of losses in transmission lines and their

details.

EC305.63 2
Recap
• Transmission lines has distributed parameters R,L,C
and G along the entire length of the line.

• Transmission lines are characterized by its

characteristic impedance ‘Z0’ and propagation constant
‘p’.

• Based on the terminating impedance value transmission

lines exists as matched line or a mismatched line.

• Depending on termination reflected waves are present

on lines.
contd..
EC305.63 3
• Incident and reflected waves add vectorially to form
standing waves.

• Transmission lines behaves as resonant circuits

depending on its length and termination.

• In a loss less Transmission line Z=√L/C and R << jωL,G

<< jωC.

EC305.63 4
 Transmission line losses:
• Practically ,in transmission lines there are losses.

• Transmission line can not pass all the energy that enters
without loss.

• Energy applied to a transmission line may be dissipated

before reaching the load.

• There are three sources of losses in transmission lines.

• They are 1.Radiation loss.

2.Conductor heating loss.
3.Dielectric heating loss.

EC305.63 5
Radiation loss

• Radiation loss occurs when transmission line act as

antenna.

• When distance of separation between lines is an

appreciable fraction of a wave length, transmission line
act as antenna.

• Radiation losses are more in parallel wire lines than

coaxial lines.

• Radiation loss are more significant as operating

frequency increases.
contd..

EC305.63 6
• Radiation loss become a severe problem with greater
spacing between conductors.

• Radiation loss does not occur in cables which are

properly terminated and grounded.

• In coaxial cables by grounding the conductor which acts

as a shield, prevents radiation.

• Radiation losses are difficult to estimate.

• Radiation losses are practically measured rather than

theoretically calculated.

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 Conductor heating loss

• Losses occur due to the resistance of the conductor is

called resistive heating loss (or) conductor heating loss.

• It is proportional to square of the current.

• It is inversely proportional to Z0,the characteristic

impedance.

contd..

EC305.63 8
• It increases with frequency because of skin effect.

• Skin effect increases the resistance of the conductor as

the frequency raises.

• The resistance of the conductor the shield that carry

current is subject to resistive heating.

• At lower frequency this loss can be reduced by using

thicker wire with less resistance.

EC305.63 9
 Dielectric heating loss

• The dielectric of a transmission line also has some loss.

• Dielectric heating takes place due to leakage current that

flows through it.

• Dielectric heating is proportional to the voltage across

the dielectric and inversely proportional to the
characteristic impedance for a given power transmitted.

Contd..

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• Dielectric heating loss increases with frequency in the
case of solid dielectric.

• This loss is negligible for vacuum and air but

impracticable.

• Open wire line and air dielectric coaxial cable have better
performance than solid dielectric cable.

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 Importance of losses

• Losses in transmission lines are proportional to the

length of the line.

• It is expressed as
dB per 100ft or dB 100meters.

• Losses must be taken care as it decides the amount of

power actually reaches the antenna from the transmitter.

• In satellite receivers noise performance is most

important which is proportional to the loss.
Contd..

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 Reflection loss

• Reflection loss or mismatch loss is defined as the

number of nepers or decibels by which the current in the
load under matched condition would exceed the current
actually flowing in the load.

• Reflection loss in nepers= loge 1/к Where к is reflection

coefficient.

EC305.63 13
summary

• Three types of loss occur in transmission lines, are

1.radiation loss
2.Conductor heating loss
3.Dielectric heating loss

• Radiation loss occurs when distance of separation

between transmission lines is a fraction of wavelength.
. contd..

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• Parallel wire lines have more radiation loss.

• Conductor heating loss is due to resistance of the

conductor.

• Dielectric heating loss is due to leakage current flowing

through the dielectric of the cable.

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• Why does a higher impedance line have lower copper loss
than a lower impedance line, all things being equal?

A high impedance line has lower current for a given power

level than does a line of lower characteristic impedance.

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PROBLEM :
A transmitter is required to deliver 100W to an antenna
through 45 m of coaxial cable with a loss of 4 dB /100 m.
what must be the output power of the transmitter,
assuming the line is matched?
Given data: cable length=45m,cable loss=4dB
P0=100W,Pin=?
The loss in dB is=45m×4dB /100 m.
=1.8dB
Pin/pout=antilog (1.8/10) =1.51
Transmitter power pin=1.51×100 w=151 w.

EC305.63 17
 Quiz

1. The type of loss which is proportional to the square of

the current is
a) radiation loss
b) conductor heating loss
c) dielectric heating loss
d) reflection loss
ans (b)

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2. The loss which is predominant in open wire lines is

a) radiation loss
b) conductor heating loss
c) dielectric heating loss
d) reflection loss

ans (a)

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3. Dielectric heating loss is negligible in

a) poly ethylene
b) Mylar dielectric cable
c) open wire line
d) copper cable
ans (c )

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Frequently asked questions

1)Explain the various types of losses in transmission lines?

2)Define the following

a) radiation loss
b) conductor heating loss
c) dielectric heating loss

EC305.63 21