Chapter 7

Microwave
Antennas and
Propagation
PRESENTED BY:
KOBID KARKEE
KANTIPUR ENGINEERING COLLEGE
DHAPAKHEL, LALITPUR
 Microwave Antennas 2

 Conventional antennas can be adapted to microwave

use
 The small wavelength of microwaves allows for
additional antenna types.
 Assignment 3

 Horn antenna Refer to David M. Pozar’s book

 Slot Antenna for propagation characteristics
of microwave antennas.
 Lens Antenna
 Microstrip antenna
 Helical Antenna
 Parabolic Reflectors
 Plasma effect
 Propagation effect
 Ground effect
 Radiation Zones 4

 Radiation is the energy in the form of electromagnetic waves.

 Radiation zone or field can be divided into three zones depending
upon physical size of antenna (D) and wavelength of the antenna
or transmitter or system:
1. Reactive Zone/Non- radiative near-field
𝝀
𝑹=
𝟐𝝅
2. Radiating Near-field/ Fresnel Zone
𝟐𝑫𝟐
𝑹=
𝝀
3. Radiating far-field
𝟐𝑫𝟐
𝑹>
𝝀
Radiation Zones 5

 Reactive Zone and radiative

near-field zone are
hazardous.
 Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) 6

 Specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the

rate at which energy is absorbed by the human body
when exposed to a radio frequency (RF)
electromagnetic field.
𝝈𝑬𝟐
 𝑺𝑨𝑹 = W/kg
𝒎𝒅
Where σ = conductivity
E = electric field intensity
md = mass density (kg/m2)
EM RADIATION HAZARD (RADHAZ): 7

1. Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel

(HERP)-potential of electromagnetic radiation to
produce harmful biological effects in humans.
2. Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance
(HERO)- potential of electro explosive devices to be
adversely effected by electromagnetic radiation
3. Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel
(HERF)-potential of electromagnetic radiation to
cause spark ignition of volatile combustibles such as
vehicles fuels.
 HERP 8

 Caused by the thermal effect of radiated energy where

the body absorbs radiation
 Significant internal heating may occur without the
individuals knowledge because the body does not have
internal sensation of heat, and tissue damage may occur
before the excess heat can be dissipated.
 Eg-if the lense of the eye is exposed to microwaves, its
circulatory system would be unable to provide sufficient
flow of blood for cooling and may cause cataract.
 HERP 9

 Eg-the stomach, intestines and bladder are especially

sensitive to thermal damage from high power microwaves.
 Microwave frequencies for which the wavelengths are the
same order of magnitude as the dimensions of human body
produce close coupling between the body and the
microwave field.
 A large amount of heat can be generated to caused severe
damage to the body.
 Significant energy absorption will occur even when the
body size 1/10 of the wavelength.
 HERP 10

 Although the biological damage occurs mostly due to the

dielectric coupling, low frequency magnetic field coupling
also produce damage when exposure time is large.
 HERO 11

 Microwave energy is dangerous to ordnance like weapon

system, safety and emergency devices and other equipment
containing sensitive electro explosive devices (EEDs).
 Radiated fields can cause unintentional triggering of EEDs
 High intensity RFR fields produced by modern radio and
radar transmitting equipment can cause sensitive
electrically initiated devices (EIDs) classically known as
electro-explosive devices (EEDs), contained in ordnance
systems to actuate prematurely.
 HERO 12

 Ordnance is more sensitive than human partially because

they do not have circulatory system to dissipate internal
heat.
 However, EEDs can more easily be protected from the effects
of RF energy than humans by enclosing them with metallic
enclosures which reflected back the incident microwave
energy
 The potential dangers to ordnance and fuels are obvious
because there could be an explosive "chain reaction" by
exploding; consequently, these limits are generally lower
than personnel limits.
 HERF 13

 Occurs due to possibility of accidently igniting fuel

vapours by RF-induced areas during fuel handling
operations proximity to high level RF fields.(during
fuel handling operations close to high powered radar
and radio transmitting antennas. )
 Theprobability of ignition may be significant for more
than 50 volt-ampere arc.
 HERF 14

 HERF precautions are of more general concern to fuel

truck operators.
 However, some general guidelines include:
1. Do not energize a transmitter (radar/comm) on an aircraft or
motor vehicle being fueled or on an adjacent aircraft or
vehicle.
2. Do not make or break any electrical, ground wire, or tie
down connector while fueling.
3. Radars capable of illuminating fueling areas with a peak
power density of 5 W/cm2 should be shut off.
 HERF 15

4. For shore stations, antennas radiating 250 watts or less

should be installed at least 50 ft from fueling areas (at sea
500 watts is the relaxed requirement).
5. For antennas which radiate more than 250 watts, the
power density at 50 ft from the fueling operation should
not be greater than the equivalent power density of a 250
watt transmitter located at 50 ft.
 Radiation Hazard Limit 16

 International Radiation Protection Association

(IRPA) sets the Permissible Exposure Levels (PEL)
for the general public
 IRPA guidelines are divided into 2 categories:
◦ Occupational Permissible Exposure Levels (applies to
personnel who work in the vicinity of RF for 8 hours a
day)
◦ General Public Permissible Exposure Levels (applies to
resident who are exposed to the RF electromagnetic
environment throughout the year
17
 FCC Safety Limit 18

Hazard

Safe
MPEL (ANSI’s 1982 RF Protection Guide) 19

Hazard

Safe
 Radiation Protection 20

 Can be practised by preventing radiation from

entering into the beam of the transmit antenna or
from coming close to any microwave generators
or propagating medium.
 Inareas where high power radar are used, the
service and maintenance personnel must wear
microwave absorptive suit (made of stainless
steel woven into a fire retardant synthetic fiber).