University of Tripoli

Faculty of Engineering

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

EE421

Propagation of pulses on transmission lines

Manal Mahmoud Ali Salim

22171719
Group: 13
Instructor: Eng. Abdullah Aiad Abograin
:Introduction

A transmission line is used for the transmission of electrical power from generating substation
to the various distribution units. It transmits the wave of voltage and current from one end to
another. The transmission line is made up of a conductor having a uniform cross-section along
.the line. Air act as an insulating or dielectric medium between the conductors

Pulse propagation and impedance matching are important concepts in the transmission of
signals and information in communication electronics. Reflections and power loss can distort
.and destroy signals

Transmission lines are used as pulse generators. By charging the transmission line and then
discharging it into a resistive load, a rectangular pulse equal in length to twice the electrical
length of the line can be obtained, although with half the voltage. A Blumlein transmission line
is a related pulse forming device that overcomes this limitation. These are sometimes used as
the pulsed power sources for radar transmitters and other devices.{1}

A Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) is a device used to detect the location of faults in
transmission lines and coaxial cables. The TDR sends a low voltage pulsed signal through the
transmission line and checks for any reflections seen due to impedance mismatch. If there is no
impedance mismatch throughout the line then there will be no reflections, however, if there is a
discontinuity in the transmission line at a particular point, some part of the pulsed signal will
get reflected back to the TDR. By measuring the time and propagation velocity of the received
pulse, the TDR can calculate the exact location of the fault and the nature of the fault ex. open
circuit, short circuit or impedance mismatch. {2}

Figure 1- Block diagram of TDR

:Objectives of the experiment

The objective of this experiment is to study the propagation of pulses on transmission lines and
to study the reflection of pulses under various load
conditions. Some of the applications of this study are related to digital
.pulses transmission and time domain reflectometers

Equipment:
Trainer equipped with pulse generator source and various loads.
A 50Ω coaxial cable with 30m length.
A 75Ω coaxial cable with 30m or 100m length.
Oscilloscope.
.Various connecting cables

:Procedure and Results

1-Connect the output of the pulse generator directly to the oscilloscope. Measure the amplitude,
duration, and periodicity of the pulses.

Fig (2)

2.2 ×2=4.4 V :Amplitude

1 ×0.5=0.5 µs :Duration

6.5 ×0.5=3.25 µs :Periodicity

2-Connect the output of the pulse generator to an open ended 50Ω coaxial cable with a 30m
length while monitoring the pulses on the oscilloscope. Measure the amplitudes of the incident
and reflected pulses, measure the round trip time of the pulses, and calculate the velocity of the
pulses on the cable.
 Fig (3)

Amplitude of incident and reflected pulses: 1.1 ×2=2.2 V

Round trip time: 0.5 µs

Velocity of the pulses: 60 ÷ 0.5 µs =120×106 m/s

3- Connect the pulse generator to a 75Ω coaxial cable with a known length, explain the
appearance of multiple reflections with different amplitudes.

Fig (4)

It is noticed that there is difference in amplitude between 75Ω and 50Ω, the reflected pulse is
not equal to the transmitted pulse because the line is mismatched.
The reflection coefficient is:

50−75
Г = 50+75 = -0.2
This means that only 80% of pulse is reflected

4- Connect the end of the 50Ω coaxial cable to the variable resistance load available within the
trainer. Vary the resistance value from minimum to maximum and observe the variation of the
reflected pulse's amplitude.

Fig (5)

5- Change the load to a 50Ω resistor in parallel with a 2.2nF capacitor and observe the
waveform of the reflected pulse. Explain this waveform.

Fig (6)

=RC=50×2.2×10-9 = 0.110µs

Mathematical formulas of the reflected pulses:

−¿ ( L )¿

Vl=V +¿ (L )+ V ¿
+ ¿ ( L) ¿
−¿ ( L )= Vl−V ¿
V
 +¿ ( L ) =0.5 v ¿
V
1
R( )
cs R
Z1 ( s ) = =
1 Rcs+ 1
R+
cs
−t s
4∗(1−e ) 1 p

VL ( s )= ×
s Rcs+2
−t s 1 1 1
VL ( s )=4∗( 1−e ) [ − p
]
2 s 2
s+
Rc
[ ]
−2
t
Rc
VL ( t )=2∗ 1−e u ( t )−2∗¿
+ ¿ ( L) ¿
−¿ ( L )= Vl−V ¿
V
[ ]
−2
t

V −¿ ( L )=2∗ 1−e u ( t )−2∗¿ ¿-2(u(t)-u(t-tp))

Rc

6- Change the load to a 2.2kΩ resistor in parallel with a 4.7nF capacitor and observe the
waveform of the reflected pulse. Explain this waveform.

Fig (7)

=RC=2.2×4.7×10-6 = 10.34µs

Mathematical formulas of the reflected pulses:

−¿ ( L )¿

Vl=V +¿ ( L )+ V ¿

+ ¿ ( L) ¿

V −¿ ( L )=Vl−V ¿

+¿ ( L ) =0.5 v ¿
V

1
R '( )
cs R'
Z1 ( s ) = =
1 R ' cs+1
R' +
cs
 R'
−t p s
(1−e ) R ' cs+ 1
VL ( s )= ×
s R'
+R
R ' cs+ 1

7- Change the load to a 50Ω resistor in series with a 2.2μH inductor and observe the waveform
of the reflected pulse. Explain this waveform.

Fig (8)
Based on fig (8), It demonstrates the charge and discharge of inductor in series with resistor.

Mathematical formulas of the reflected pulses:

+ ¿ ( L) ¿
−¿ ( L )=Vl−V ¿
V
+¿ ( L ) =0.5 v ¿
V

Z1 ( s )=R+ Ls

( 1−e−t s )
[ R Ls
]
p

V L ( s )= +
s Ls+2 R Ls+ 2 R

[( ]
R 1
V L ( s )=( 1−e−t s ) p
+
sL s+
2R
L ) s+
2R
L

[ ] [ ]
−2 R −2 R
L
t R L
(t −t p ) R
V L ( t ) =e 1+ u ( t )−e 1+ u ( t−t p )
L L
+ ¿ ( L) ¿
−¿ ( L )=Vl−V ¿
V
 [ ] () [ ](
−2 R −2 R
t
R ( t−t p )
R
−¿ ( L )=e L
1+ u t −eL
1+ u t −t p )−2(u(t )−u(t −t p))¿
L L
V

:Simulation

Fig (9) output waveform of 50Ω resistor in parallel with a 2.2nF capacitor load

Fig (10) output waveform of a 50Ω resistor in series with a 2.2μH inductor load.

Fig (11) output waveform of a 2.2kΩ resistor in parallel with a 4.7nF capacitor load.
:Applications

Om of the most important applications of pulse propagation on T.L is TDR (Time domain
reflectometer), TDRs are widely used in any area where there may be long or inaccessible
lengths of cable that may need to be tested, or they may have faults. Time domain reflectometry
can also be used on printed circuit boards to locate issues that can arise there as well.

Some of the TDR applications include:

Telecommunications cable landlines.

Landline preventative maintenance.

Landline security surveillance.

Circuit board testing.

Industrial applications.

Conclusion:

This experiment provided a helpful insight into the way into the pulse propagation on
transmission lines and effect of applying different loads.

A valuable hands-on experience was gained through the carrying out of the experiment and an
understanding of nature of mismatch and match impedances, the effect of different source and
load resistances on reflections within the transmission line was established.

References:

{1} https://www.sciencedirect.com

{2} https://www.electronics-notes.com