Unit – II AC Circuits

• Steady-state analysis of AC circuits:

Sinusoidal and phasor representation of
Voltage and current, single phase AC circuit,
behavior of R, L and C - 4 lectures

• Combination of R, L and C in series and

parallel, Resonance; Introduction to three-
phase circuits, Star-Delta Transformation -
4 lectures
 Few questions for AC circuits:
• What is steady state and how is it different
from transient state?
• Is there any difference in behavior of AC
circuit as compared to DC circuit in steady
state condition?
• Difficulty in sinusoidal representation of
voltage and current in AC circuits in steady
state condition and the need of phasor
representation
What is steady state and how is it different
from transient state?
• When we have dynamic (energy storing) elements
like capacitor or inductor present in the circuit then
at the time of switching (on/off) the current and
voltage across the capacitor or inductor keeps on
changing (either increasing continuously or
decreasing depending upon whether it is a case of
charging or discharging) for a while.
• That time period is known as transient phase.
• After the transient phase is over then the voltages
and currents have attended its final value and the
state is known as steady state.
 Difference in DC and AC circuit
behavior in steady state
• Is there any difference in behavior of AC circuit as
compared to DC circuit in steady state condition? Yes
• In DC Capacitor behaves as open circuit and Inductor as
short circuit in steady state. However, in AC they will not
behave as open or short circuit as the magnitude of
source will keep on varying sinusoidally and hence
capacitor and inductor will keep on charging and
discharging for half – half cycles.
• Due to that in AC the capacitor and inductor will offer
capacitive reactance and inductive reactance respectively
and concept of impedance will get introduced.
 Difficulty in sinusoidal representation of voltage
and current in AC circuits: Concept of Phasors
• In AC circuits all the currents and voltages across all the elements will
vary sinusoidally. In capacitors and inductors there will be a phase
difference as well between the voltage and current waveforms. Hence, it
becomes very difficult to visualize the different voltage and current
waveforms.
• In order to deal with this difficulty a concept of phasor has been
introduced. A phasor representation is like a vector which has
magnitude and angle.
• The phasor magnitude is equal to RMS value of the sinusoidally varying
quantity and the phasor angle is the phase angle by which the
considered quantity leads/ lags with respect to the reference taken.
• It is to be kept in mind that frequency is not considered for phasor
representation as all the voltage and current will have same frequency.
Only the RMS value of magnitude and phase angle is to be considered.
 steady state analysis of AC circuits
• Voltage and current is taken as RMS with one of the voltage or
current taken as reference
• For resistance no change
• For inductor (L henry); Inductive Reactance XL = j 2πfL ohm
• For capacitor (C farad); Capacitive Reactance Xc = -j/2πfC ohm
• Impedance is defined as net resistance and reactance obtained
using vector addition instead of algebraic addition
• Finally current/ voltage is obtained using complex number
operation.

Find V for the given circuit

Steps for steady state analysis of AC circuits

• Convert all the capacitors and inductors in terms of their

capacitive and inductive reactances respectively.
• Solve the series parallel combinations using complex number
arithmetic instead of algebraic mathematics.
•KCL/ KVL or any other circuit analysis tool can be applied.
However, the only precaution is that we have to use complex
number arithmetic at every place. Use scientific calculator
•In the present circuit net impedance
•Z = ((5+j8)*(8-j10)/(5+j8+8-j10)) + (7+j12) = 21.44∟42.3°
•So, V = IZ = 10 ∟0° *21.44 ∟42.3° = 214.4∟42.3°
•Here there is a difference between voltage and current phasor.
The cosine of phase difference is defined as power factor (pf)
 Sinusoidal and phasor representation
of Voltage and current in AC circuits
• For sinusoidal representation of voltage and
current in AC circuits we have to draw sinusoids
of them considering phase lead/ lag. It is a
tedious task and very difficult to comprehend.
• Hence, phasor representation is used. For phasor
representation we consider one of the voltage/
current as reference phasor and draw all the
other phasors using their RMS magnitude and
phase difference using the laws of vectors.
Analysis of a single phase AC circuit
Behavior of R, L and C in single phase AC circuit
• For a resistance R, we know that i = v/R
• For AC, v = √2 V cos2πft; where V is RMS of
voltage
• Hence i = √2 v/R *cos2πft
• This shows that for a resistance R both voltage
and current phasors will be in same phase.
• It means a resistance will be treated as it is
without any change.
Behavior of R, L and C in single phase AC circuit
• For an inductor L, we know that v = L*di/dt
• Or, i = 1/L*∫v*dt
• For AC, v = √2 V cos2πft; where V is RMS voltage
• Hence i = √2 *v/2πfL *sin2πft
• Or, i = √2 *v/2πfL *cos(2πft – 90°)
• Comparing it with ohm’s law i =v/r
• We notice that the current will lag the voltage
by 90° and the inductor will offer an inductive
reactance of 2πfL. Taking phase also in account
XL = j 2πfL; where j is iota of complex number.
Behavior of R, L and C in single phase AC circuit
• For a capacitor C, we know that i = C*dv/dt
• For AC, v = √2 V cos2πft; where V is RMS of
voltage
• Hence i = √2 *v*C*2πf*-sin2πft
• Or, i = √2 *v/(1/2πfC) *cos(2πft + 90°)
• Comparing it with ohm’s law i =v/r
• We notice that the current will lead the
voltage by 90° and the capacitor will offer an
capacitive reactance of 1/2πfC. Taking phase
also in account XC = -j/2πfC
 Combination of R, L and C in series

• Let a resistance R ohm is connected in series with

an inductor of L henry and capacitor of C farad
across an AC voltage source of RMS value V and
frequency f as shown in the figure.
• For the steady state analysis of the circuit let us
convert the capacitance and inductance into
capacitive and inductive reactance respectively.
 Combination of R, L and C in series

• Hence, net impedance Z = R + j(2πfL - 1/2πfC)

• Now, based on the values of L and C; we can
have either of these three conditions:
(a) 2πfL > 1/2πfC ; it will be net RL type circuit
(b) 2πfL < 1/2πfC ; it will be net RC type circuit
(c) 2πfL = 1/2πfC ; it will behave as purely
resistance circuit. This condition is Resonance.
Resonance in R, L and C series circuit
• As seen earlier, for RLC series circuit;
• net impedance Z = R + j(2πfL - 1/2πfC)
• Hence |Z| = √((R^2)+(2πfL - 1/2πfC)^2)
• In case of Resonance 2πfL = 1/2πfC
• Hence, for a RLC series circuit impedance Z
will be minimum in case of Resonance.
• Thus, for a voltage source, current will be
maximum. Due to this it is also known as
current Resonance circuit.
Combination of R, L and C in parallel

• A RLC parallel circuit is as shown in the figure.

• For analysis let us convert inductor and
capacitor into inductive and capacitive
reactance respectively as shown above.
• For parallel circuit, we know that
• 1/Z = 1/R + 1/ j2πfL + 1/ (-j/2πfC)
• Or, Y = 1/Z = 1/R + j(2πfC - 1/2πfL)
Combination of R, L and C in parallel

• Hence, net admittance Y = 1/R + j(2πfC - 1/2πfL)

• Now, based on the values of L and C; we can
have either of these three conditions:
(a) 2πfC > 1/2πfL ; it will be net RC type circuit
(b) 2πfC < 1/2πfL ; it will be net RL type circuit
(c) 2πfC = 1/2πfL ; it will behave as purely
resistance circuit. This condition is Resonance.
Resonance in R, L and C parallel circuit
• Here |Y| = √((1/R^2)+(2πfC - 1/2πfL)^2)
• In case of Resonance 2πfC = 1/2πfL
• Hence, for a RLC parallel circuit admittance Y
will be minimum (and impedance Z will be
maximum) in case of Resonance.
• Thus, for a voltage source, current will be
minimum. In other words for a current source
voltage will be maximum during Resonance.
Due to this RLC parallel circuit is also known as
voltage Resonance circuit.
 Resonant frequency in RLC series and RLC
parallel circuit
• As we have seen that for Resonance in RLC
series circuit 2πfL = 1/2πfC. Hence, fr = 1/2π√LC
• Also, the condition for Resonance in RLC
parallel circuit is 2πfC = 1/2πfL. Hence in this
case also Resonant frequency fr = 1/2π√LC
• Hence, it is clear that in both the cases of series
as well as parallel RLC circuit the condition for
Resonance remains same and the resonant
frequency is also same.