Microwave Techniques manufactures waveguide loads with several design types and configurations for low, medium, and high power settings. This all-encompassing product line ranges from instrument level, to low power test terminations, to ultra-high power system loads. Whether your project requires air cooled, liquid cooled, super high power, or minimum cost and weight objectives, Microwave Techniques has a wide ranging portfolio of waveguide loads. Contact our team today to discuss our wide-ranging catalog of RF load solutions.
Waveguide Loads: Capabilities and Overview
Our manufacturing and design capabilities for waveguide loads continues to grow each year. While we offer a standard product line, we also have the ability to custom fabricate and configure loads based on your system requirements.
With an extensive standard product line as well as custom solutions, our growing capabilities include:
- Loads from WR28 to WR2300
- Several flange and interface options
- FXR Loads: WE, WF, WG, and WL series
- Ability to design and manufacture vacuum loads
- Various cooling: air, water, liquid, water-coupled
- Waveguide loads for low, medium, and high power
- Various solutions for L, S, C, X, Ku, K, and Ka-Band
- Designs for high peak and average power handling
- Compact and rugged loads built to resist shock and vibration
Definition, Applications, and Common Uses
- What is a waveguide load?
A waveguide load is a high power single terminal device, intended to terminate a transmission line.
- What is a common use for one?
One very common use is for testing high power microwave systems at full power capacity.
- What are some other applications?
Waveguide loads are widely used in military radar applications to absorb excess heat generated by the system. Other applications include: particle accelerators, linear accelerators, and industrial microwaves, among others.
Configurations and Types of Waveguide Loads
In microwave and RF engineering, there are several different designs, configurations, styles, and types of waveguide loads available. Here at Microwave Techniques, we specialize in and often manufacture the following types of loads:
- Dry loads
- Water loads
- Finned loads
- Dummy loads
- Vacuum loads
- Unfinned loads
- Heat sink loads
- Air cooled loads
- Liquid cooled loads
- Water coupled loads
- Super high power loads
- Block window water loads
In determining the best fit load for your application, certain criteria and information is helpful to provide. If you are searching for a specific waveguide load, we recommend providing the following information about your application. Please specify: peak power, average power, VSWR requirements, bandwidth, waveguide size, and desired flange type.
High Power Waveguide Loads
Microwave Techniques produces a full line of high power waveguide loads. These range from instrument level to very high power system loads. We offer an array of waveguide sizes, in a variety of configurations. Low power test terminations may be supplied in fixed or adjustable configuration to best suit your waveguide system needs. Air cooled loads are available to handle most medium power applications, while numerous styles of water cooled waveguide loads are available for higher power applications. MT engineers are available to discuss custom system load requirements.
FXR Loads
FXR Loads by Microwave Techniques is a product line that consists of unfinned (WE series), finned (WF series), super high power (WG series), and liquid cooled (WL series) waveguide loads. Each series provides different objectives. FXR Loads are available in sizes ranging from WR28 to WR650. This covers a frequency range from 1.12 to 40 GHz.
WE Series | Unfinned Waveguide Loads
Overview
- Economic convection design
- Extremely rugged high power loads
- Available with most common flanges
- High temperature refractory load elements
General Specifications
| Load Material: | Refractory |
| Test Pressure: | 35 psig max. |
| Housing Finish: | Black, Silicone-based Pyromark 1200 >525°C (1,000°F) |
| Material: | Aluminum |
| Flange Finish: | Iridite per MIL-C-5541 |
WE Series | Product Line Description
The WE series are rugged, high-power units. They are designed to satisfy minimum cost and weight objectives. Models are designed for bands from 1.12 to 40.0 GHz. The WE waveguide loads employ high temperature refractory load elements designed to meet the strictest standards. These load elements are in direct contact with the waveguide walls for optimum heat transfer and can withstand extremely high temperature, temperature gradients and thermal shocks.
These loads can be supplied to operate over the full indicated waveguide frequency band. Generally faster delivery and a more economical unit can be furnished for use over narrower frequency ranges. Always specify your frequency and VSWR requirements. Designs to meet special requirements for bandwidth, size, flanges, etc., are available on request.
For additional cooling fins see the WF series.
WF Series | Finned Waveguide Loads
Overview
- Transverse cooling fins
- Extremely rugged high power loads
- Available with most common flanges
- High temperature refractory load elements
General Specifications
| Load Material: | Refractory |
| Test Pressure: | 35 psig max. |
| Housing Finish: | Black, Silicone-based Pyromark 1200 >525°C (1,000°F) |
| Flange type: | <2.6 GHz: Contact >2.6 GHz: Cover |
| Material: | Aluminum |
| Flange Finish: | Iridite per MIL-C-5541 |
WF Series | Product Line Description
The WF series waveguide loads are rugged commercial loads for use in the harshest environments. This model is designed to meet tight electrical and mechanical specifications for bands from 1.12 to 40.0 GHz. The WF loads employ heavy duty transverse cooling fins and high temperature refractory load elements designed for reliable performance.
The load elements are in direct contact with the waveguide walls for optimum heat transfer and can withstand extremely high temperature, temperature gradients and thermal shocks. The WG series is a similar finned design, but with additional fins for enhanced heat transfer. For lower powers, unfinned models may meet the need and the WE series can be used. These loads can be supplied to operate over the full indicated waveguide frequency band.
Generally faster delivery and a more economical unit can be furnished for use over narrower frequency ranges. Always specify your frequency and VSWR requirements with any request. Designs to meet special requirements for bandwidth, size, flanges, etc., are available on request.
WG Series | High Power Waveguide Loads
Overview
- Transverse cooling fins
- Highest power air cooled loads
- Available with most common flanges
- High temperature refractory load elements
General Specifications
| Load Material: | Refractory |
| Test Pressure: | 35 psig max. |
| Housing Finish: | Black, Silicone-based Pyromark 1200 >525°C (1,000°F) |
| Flange type: | <2.6 GHz: Contact >2.6 GHz: Cover |
| Material: | Aluminum |
| Flange Finish: | Iridite per MIL-C-5541 |
WG Series | Product Line Description
The WG series waveguide loads are designed to offer superior performance that exceeds that offered by the standard military DA loads. Improved fin location, slight physical size alterations, and other enhancements make this increase in performance possible. The WG loads employ transverse cooling fins and high temperature refractory load elements that are designed to conform to the rigorous requirements of demanding environments with high vibration and wide temperature swings. These load elements are in direct contact with the waveguide walls for optimum heat transfer.
They can withstand extremely high temperature, temperature gradients and thermal shocks. These loads can be supplied to operate over the full indicated waveguide frequency band. Generally faster delivery and a more economical unit can be furnished for use over narrower frequency ranges. Always specify your frequency and VSWR requirements with any request. Designs to meet special requirements for bandwidth, size, flanges, etc., are available on request.
WL Series | Liquid Cooled High Power Waveguide Loads
Overview
- Mounts in any position
- Maximum power water cooled loads
- Available with most common flanges
- High temperature refractory load elements
General Specifications
| VSWR: | 1.10:1 max. |
| Coolant: | Liquid |
| Load Material: | Refractory |
| Coolant: Max. Inlet Temperature: Test Pressure: Pressure: | 150°F 50 psig. max. 100 psig max. |
| Coolant Connector: | NPT, female WL-0025, -0035, -0045: 3/4 – 14 WL-0050, -0055, -0065: 1/4 – 18 |
| Finish: | Black, Silicone-based Pyromark 1200 >525°C (1,000°F) |
| Flange Material: | Aluminum |
| Flange Finish: | Iridite per MIL-C-5541 |
WL Series | Product Line Description
The WL series waveguide loads are the highest power liquid cooled dry loads available in this product family. They are available in the 1.12 to 18.0 GHz region. The WL load series employs high temperature refractory load elements designed to meet the most demanding requirements. Load elements are in direct contact with waveguide walls for optimum heat transfer. They can withstand extremely high temperature, temperature gradients, and thermal shocks.
They are designed to operate at the rated power without coolant for sufficient time to permit detection and correction of coolant system failure. The units utilize a cylindrical aluminum, copper or stainless steel cooling jacket.
Stiffening ribs are employed for mechanical rigidity, improved heat transfer, and optimum coolant flow. Water is used as a coolant. Standard NPT female pipe threads are provided for coolant connections. Coolant flow rates shown are the minimum recommended for proper cooling for peak power values. These units may be mounted in any position but care must be taken to remove trapped air during operation. These loads can be supplied to operate at set frequencies or the full indicated waveguide frequency band. Generally faster delivery and a more economical unit can be furnished for use over narrower frequency ranges. We ask that you please specify your power, frequency, and VSWR requirements.
To request a quote, or to set up a discussion with our microwave experts, contact our dedicated team today!
