Publication: The evaluation of parallel plate antenna with variation of air gaps separation and copper plate area
Date
2019
Authors
Mohammad S.A.
Ahmad M.R.
Alkahtani A.A.
Esa M.R.M.
Sidik M.A.B.
Nawawi Z.
Jambak M.I.
Baharin S.A.S.
Sabri M.H.M.
Yusop N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mattingley Publishing
Abstract
Lightning detection system uses antenna as its sensor to capture the electric fields produced by lightning flashes. In this paper, four different designs of parallel capacitive Flame Retardant 4 (FR4) antenna are simulated in Computer Simulation Technology (CST) to observe and later verified the direction of electric field is vertical at the center point of the antenna given the various distances of air gap. Three antennas have the same dimension with A3 size with gaps of 30 mm (Antenna A), 50 mm (Antenna B), and 100 mm (Antenna C) accompanied by a smaller area of antenna with 100 mm gap (Antenna D). Existing antenna used during lightning measurements has 30 mm gap between its parallel plates as it follows the common practice during the collection of electric fields. With the variation of air gaps and area, return stroke waveforms are measured using all four antennas with the same digitizer (Picoscope 4000). In this study, the amplitude and shape of the waveforms captured by all four antennas were analyzed. Cross correlation method has been used for the shape analysis. It is found that the lagging is less than 4, which means the largest air gap at 10 mm (Antennas C and D) does not change the frequency component of the return stroke waveforms. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the return strokes for 10 mm air gap (Antennas C and D) are the highest when compared to other antennas (Antennas A and B). � 2019 Mattingley Publishing. All rights reserved.
Description
Lightning; Air-gaps; Computer simulation technology (CST); Cross correlation methods; Frequency components; Lightning detection; Lightning flashes; Parallel plates; Waveform amplitudes; Antennas