Radial Power Combiners

　　In the realm of modern microwave and millimeter - wave systems, the demand for high - power amplifiers is ever - increasing across diverse fields such as advanced communication systems, high - precision radars, and cutting - edge scientific research in plasma physics. However, a single amplifier module often falls short in achieving the requisite power levels. This is where radial power combiners come into play, offering a highly efficient solution for combining the power outputs of multiple individual modules.

　　Radial power combiners typically feature an n - way, in - phase, non - resonant radial transmission line structure. Their design is centered around a radial symmetry between the input and output ports, which brings about several inherent advantages. For instance, compared to chain - type or corporate - type combiners, especially when dealing with a large number of ports, the radial symmetry ensures that all paths from the input to the output ports are equal. This characteristic guarantees a perfect amplitude and phase combination in theory, although manufacturing tolerances may cause slight deviations in practical applications.

　　Take, for example, a 16 - way ku - band combiner. In experimental setups, it has demonstrated an outstanding performance: a return loss better than 30 dB, with amplitude balance within ±0.15 dB and phase balance within ±2.5°. This high - performance combiner operates within a 16.7% fractional bandwidth (2 GHz centered at 12 GHz) and achieves an efficiency of over 95% in this frequency band. Another example is a 5 - way w - band combiner, which also showcases excellent characteristics. Its experimental prototype has a return loss better than 20 dB, amplitude balance of ±0.4 dB, phase balance of ±3.5°, within a 12.8% fractional bandwidth (12 GHz centered at 94 GHz), and an efficiency of over 85% across this entire band. These experimental results represent the state - of - the - art in the field of radial power combiners.

　　Manufacturers like CIAO Wireless offer a comprehensive product line of radial power combiners spanning from UHF up to Ku - band frequencies, with n - way options ranging from 4:1 through 90:1. Their designs are not only highly customizable to meet specific customer requirements but also incorporate advanced features. For example, they often utilize an air - dielectric and purely reactive design, eliminating the need for mode suppressors or isolation resistors. This approach helps avoid topology interference, heat - sinking problems, and associated losses. All units are precision - machined and equipped with field - replaceable connectors, making them suitable for use in harsh environments. Radial power combiners also enable “hot replacement” of failed amplifier modules, ensuring that the amplifier system can remain operational even in the event of module failures, provided the customer has the appropriate equipment for such actions.

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