R-L-C CIRCUITS

CHAPTER 2
Effect of alternating current(AC) on R,L and C in Series and Parallel circuits.

RESISTOR

-The resistor develops a potential difference

across itself.
VR
-It allows a current through itself. IR 
R
-The voltage and current depends on the
value of resistor.

-Voltage and current are in phase. (meaning that there

Inductor

-Has ability to create a magnetic field, which in turn creates a back-emf.

-Back-emf is the cause of an inductor’s ability to resist a change in current.

-When an inductor is connected into an AC circuit, there is a 90 phase shift between the voltage and current due to the creation and collapse of the magnetic field
Capacitor

-Charging and discharging takes place as in a DC circuit.

-Every half cycle, the capacitor is forced to discharge and recharge again in the opposite direction
- when the capacitor is connected to AC the current leads voltage by 90.
Practical Applications of RLC Circuits.
-Watt less voltage divider
-Timing circuits
-Filter circuits
-Oscillating circuits
-Radio-tuning circuits
-Power factor correction circuits
REACTANCE.
Reactance is the ratio of the ac voltage to the circuit current, its only valid for a pure inductive or capacitive whrere a
current and voltage are out of phase by 90.
Inductive reactance

X L  2fL
-> inductive reactance (Ω)

f -> frequency (Hz)

L -> inductance (H)

inductive reactance is directly proportional to the frequency.

VL I T X L
 1
XC 
Capacitive reactance

XC ->

2fC
f -> frequency (Hz)

C -> Capacitor (F)

Capacitive Reactance is inversely proportional to the frequency.

VC I T X C
R-L-C Series impedance.

If a circuit consists of a R, L and C

all the ohmic values must be used to determine the impedance.

Impedance:

Impedance is the sum of all the actual and apparent resistances in a circuit.

Z  R 2  ( X L ~ X C )2
2
Z  R2  XT
R-L-C Parallel impedance
Each branch in the circuit draws its own current from the supply.

Relationships of these currents are dependent on the ohmic values of the components.

Smaller the ohmic value in the branch, the greater the current through the branch.

1 1 1 1 2
 ( )2  ( ~ )
Z R X L XC
IT  ( I R ) 2  ( I L ~ I C ) 2
1 1 1
 ~
XT X L XC
Phase angle
The angular displacement between voltage and current in an RLC circuit.
Is primarily caused by reactive components.
Phase angle (parallel)
IR Z
cos   
IT R
Power
Power is the rate at which a component or a circuit converts electrical energy into another form.

True power
Apparent power
Reactive power
Power loss
True / Real power
Actual power that is converted by a circuit.
Current and resistance are used in the calculation
these are the only two values that are in phase.
Measured in Watt (W).

2
P I R
P EI cos 
Apparent power

When supply voltage and the current used to calculate power

apparent power is obtained

supply voltage and current are out of phase

due to reactive components.

Measured in VA

S  EI
Reactive power
The power that is induced by the reactive components.
Measured in VAr

2
PX I X
PX L I 2 X L
2
Power loss PX C I X C

2
P I Z
Examples:

Series
Parallel
Resonance
Resonant frequency is a specific frequency whereby the inductor and the capacitor in an RLC circuit are in harmony with each other.

When inductor loses potential difference, capacitor will develop its potential difference at the same rate.

When the inductor energises, the capacitor loses its charge .

R Z  X L  X C
1
 2fL 
2fC
1
f2 
4 2 LC
1
 fr 
2 LC
Series resonance

resistor maintains a constant resistance because its a passive component

inductive reactance will show a linear increase

capacitor will show an exponential decrease.

Graphically, where these two graphs meet, will be the representation of the resonant frequency.
Parallel resonance

Calculated the same as series resonance

impedance at maximum Z=R

as the impedance is high, current is low (omhs law)

Q-Factor

Definition:
The q-factor is a measure of the relationship between
stored energy and rate of energy dissipation in certain
electrical components, devices, etc., thus indicating their
efficiency.

-The q-factor is taken at resonance

-Refers to voltage amplification ability of reactive

components

-Resistor has no q-factor

Circuit q-factor
Circuits overall ability to “amplify” a current or voltage.
Necessity if circuit is used as an oscillator in a transmitter in a communication circuit

1 L
q
R C
Inductive q-factor
Caused by
energising / de-energising of the inductor and
inductance of back-emf

XL
qL 
R
Capacitive q-factor
Due to
Charging / discharging of the capacitor
lagging effect it has on the potential difference it experienced

XC
qC 
R
Bandwidth
Stretches between a lower and a higher frequency

Resonant frequency
exactly in the centre of bandwidth

fr
BW 
q