An 80 GHz Lens Fed CTS Array Antenna for Measurements on Solid Flows

Abstract

By being able to monitor the particle dynamics of certain industrial processes, valuable infor- mation is given about the process. This is an important prerequisite to be able to ensure the quality of the product and to gain insight, which can help optimize the process. To be able to detect and characterize increasingly small particles, high-performance short-range radar (SRR) is widely used. This study details the design process of a Lens fed Continuous Transverse Stub (CTS) Array antenna, operating in the 77-81 GHz band. The intended application for the fin- ished antenna is to be able to conduct measurements within a circulating fluidized bed reactor (CFB), which is an essential component in a broad range of production processes. The de- signed antenna consists of two main parts: 1) the lens and 2) the CTS array antenna. The lens part uses a low profile, compact 2 layer spherical parallel plate waveguide (PPW), to collimate the beam and couple it to the top layer. From the top layer, the beam is then radiated using the CTS array antenna, consisting of 20 periodic slots, optimized to achieve a highly directive beam. The electromagnetic simulations performed demonstrate that the designed antenna achieves a directivity of 32.96 dBi, with an HPBW of 2.55 degrees in the H-plane and an aperture efficiency of 50of the existing concept, along with real-life testing, is needed before any real conclusion can be drawn as to its suitability within the intended application.