On Jun 8, 3:47*am, Richard Clark wrote:
On Sun, 6 Jun 2010 14:21:16 -0700 (PDT), Keith Dysart

wrote:
The 100W forward and 50W reflected have no relation to actual powers

From MECA, makers of Isolators - their application:

The isolator is placed in the measurement path of a test bench between
a signal source and the device under test (DUT) so that any
reflections caused by any mismatches will end up at the termination of
the isolator and not back into the signal source. This example also
clearly illustrates the need to be certain that the termination at the
isolated port is sufficient to handle 100% of the reflected power
should the DUT be disconnected while the signal source is at full
power. If the termination is damaged due to excessive power levels,
the reflected signals will be directed back to the receiver because of
the circular signal flow.
...
MECA offers twenty-four models of isolators and circulators in both N
and SMA-female connectors with average power ratings from 2 - 250
watts.

Good day Richard,

You have located several examples from reputable vendors where the
behaviour of directional couplers is described in terms of power
in a forward and reflected wave. This model of behaviour works within
its limits and allows for convenient computation and prediction of
the behaviour. But all of these papers have the appropriate
discipline and do not ask the question "where does the reflected
energy go?" which is good, for this exceeds the limits of the
model.

As soon as one assigns tangible energy to the reflected wave, it
becomes reasonable to ask for an accounting of this energy and
the model is incapable of properly accounting for the energy.

Following this weakness back through the model, the root cause
is the attempt to assign tangible energy to the reflected wave.
Think of it as a reflected voltage or current wave and all will
be well, but assign power to it and eventually incorrect
conclusions will be drawn.

For those who understand this, and know that "where did the
reflected energy go?" is an invalid question, using the power
model within its limits will not cause difficulties. But for
those who are not careful, great difficulties arise and a lot
of fancy dancing is offered to work around the difficulties,
unsuccessfully.

Just for fun, here is a simple example.

100V DC source, connected to a 50 ohm source resistor,
connected to 50 ohm transmission line, connected to a 50 ohm
load resistor. Turn on the source. A voltage step propagates
down the line to the load. The impedances are matched, so
there are no reflections. The source provides 100W. 100W is
dissipated in the source resistor. 100W is dissipated in the
load resistor. Energy moves along the transmission line
from the source to the load at the rate of 50W.
All is well.

Disconnect the load. A voltage step propagates back along
the line from the load to the source. In front of this
step current continues to flow. Behind the step, the
current is 0. When the step reaches the source there is
no longer any current flowing. The source is no longer
providing energy, the source resistor is dissipating
nothing, and neither is the load resistor.

Proponensts of the power model claim that energy is
still flowing down the line, being reflected from the
open end and flowing back to the source. Since the
source is clearly no longer providing energy, great
machinations are required to explain why the reflected
'energy' is re-reflected to provide the forward 'energy'.

But really, does anyone believe that a length of
transmission line, charged to 100V voltage with zero
current flowing, is actually simultaneously transporting
energy in both directions?

For even more fun, replace the ideal conductors in the
transmission line with some lossy conductors. How much
of the reflected and re-reflected energy flowing up and
down the line will be dissipated in the conductors?
Remember that the current is zero, everywhere along
the line.

....Keith