Numerical Example 4.2 (RL Parallel Circuit) - 4.5 | Module 2: Fundamentals of AC Circuits | Basics of Electrical Engineering
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4.5 - Numerical Example 4.2 (RL Parallel Circuit)

Practice

Interactive Audio Lesson

Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.

Introduction to RL Parallel Circuits

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Good morning, class! Today we will discuss RL parallel circuits, which consist of a resistor and an inductor connected to an AC source. Can anyone explain what we might expect to happen in this kind of circuit?

Student 1
Student 1

Um, I think the current will split between the two components?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The total current will indeed split. Remember, in a parallel circuit, the voltage across each component remains constant.

Student 2
Student 2

What about the phase? Does it play a role here?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, the inductance affects the phase relationship between current and voltage. In a parallel circuit, while voltage remains constant, the current can lag for the inductor.

Calculating Inductive Reactance

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Let’s proceed to calculate the inductive reactance, XL. Who can remind us how to find XL?

Student 3
Student 3

Oh, isn’t it XL = ωL where ω = 2πf?

Teacher
Teacher

Spot on, Student_3! Now, can we calculate it with our given frequency of 50 Hz and inductance of 0.2 H?

Student 4
Student 4

Yes! So, first ω = 2 × π × 50, which is about 314.16 rad/s. Then, XL = 314.16 × 0.2, which gives us 62.83 Ω.

Teacher
Teacher

Great! Now we know the inductor's reactance, which helps us further analyze the circuit.

Calculating Total Admittance

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Now that we have our XL, let’s find the admittance of both the resistor and inductor. Who can tell me the formula for admittance?

Student 1
Student 1

Isn’t it Y = 1/Z?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! So, starting with the resistor's admittance, what do we get?

Student 2
Student 2

For the resistor YR = 1/50, which is 0.02 S.

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect! And for the inductor?

Student 3
Student 3

YL = 1/(jXL) so that’s 1/(j62.83) which equals -j0.0159 S.

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent! Now let's calculate the total admittance Ytotal.

Total Current Calculation

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Lastly, we will find the total current using the total admittance. What is the relationship we need here?

Student 4
Student 4

Itotal = Vsource × Ytotal, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Let’s use our Vsource of 100 V and our Ytotal that we just calculated. Can we compute Itotal?

Student 1
Student 1

So, it will be 100 × (0.02 - j0.0159). That means Itotal = 2.555 ∠-38.49° A.

Teacher
Teacher

Well done! This tells us the total current is 2.555 A with a phase lag, as expected for an inductive circuit.

Review and Key Takeaways

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

To wrap up, can anyone describe the steps we took to analyze our RL parallel circuit?

Student 2
Student 2

First, we calculated the inductive reactance and then the admittance of each component.

Student 3
Student 3

And then we found the total admittance before calculating the total current drawn from the source.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly, great wrap-up! Are there any questions before we finish?

Student 4
Student 4

Nah, I think I’m good!

Teacher
Teacher

Fantastic! Make sure to review these concepts for our next class.

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section covers the calculation of total current in an RL parallel circuit connected to an AC supply.

Standard

In this section, we focus on the analysis of a parallel circuit consisting of a resistor and an inductor under an AC supply. We calculate the total current drawn from the supply and discuss the components' admittance and their effects on the circuit's performance.

Detailed

In an RL parallel circuit, the total current is determined by analyzing the contributions from both the resistor and the inductor. The resistor (50Ω) and the inductor (0.2 H) are connected to a 100V, 50 Hz AC supply. Key calculations include finding the angular frequency (ω) and the inductive reactance (XL), followed by determining the admittance of both components. Finally, we sum up the individual admittances to find the total current drawn from the source. Understanding this analysis is crucial for designing efficient circuits that utilize both resistive and reactive elements effectively.

Audio Book

Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.

Angular Frequency Calculation

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ω = 2πf = 2π × 50 = 314.16 rad/s.

Detailed Explanation

The angular frequency (ω) is a measure of how quickly the current or voltage oscillates in AC circuits. It is calculated using the formula ω = 2πf, where f is the frequency in hertz (Hz). In this case, with a frequency of 50 Hz, we multiply it by 2π to convert it into radians per second.

Examples & Analogies

Think of angular frequency like the speed of a carousel. If the carousel spins more times per minute (higher frequency), it has a higher angular speed. Similarly, the higher the frequency of your AC supply, the faster the oscillation of the current.

Inductive Reactance Calculation

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XL = ωL = 314.16 × 0.2 = 62.83 Ω.

Detailed Explanation

Inductive reactance (XL) is the opposition that an inductor offers to the flow of alternating current due to its inductance (L). It is calculated using the formula XL = ωL, where ω is the angular frequency and L is the inductance in henries (H). In this example, we have an inductor of 0.2 H, which gives us a reactance of 62.83 Ω at 50 Hz.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine the inductor as a water dam that resists the flow of water (current). The larger the dam (higher inductance) and the faster the water flows (higher frequency), the greater the resistance to the flow becomes.

Admittance of Resistor Calculation

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YR = 1/R = 1/50 = 0.02 S. In polar form: 0.02∠0° S.

Detailed Explanation

Admittance (Y) is a measure of how easily a circuit allows current to flow and is the reciprocal of impedance (Z). For the resistor in the circuit, we calculate the admittance YR as YR = 1/R, resulting in 0.02 siemens (S). In polar form, this is 0.02∠0° S, indicating that it has no phase shift.

Examples & Analogies

Think of admittance like a wide road that allows a lot of cars (current) to flow through easily. The wider the road (lower resistance), the more cars can pass without slowing down.

Admittance of Inductor Calculation

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YL = 1/ZL = 1/(jXL) = 1/(j62.83) = -j(1/62.83) ≈ -j0.0159 S. In polar form: 0.0159∠-90° S.

Detailed Explanation

The admittance of the inductor is calculated by taking the inverse of the inductive reactance ZL. This results in an admittance YL represented as a complex number, indicating its phase shift of -90 degrees which indicates that the current through an inductor lags behind the voltage. This lagging nature is typical for inductive components.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine the inductor as a sponge that absorbs water (current) but resists rapid flow. The water that comes in is not immediately released – it lags behind because the sponge needs time to soak it up.

Total Admittance Calculation

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Ytotal = YR + YL = (0.02) + (0 - j0.0159) = 0.02 - j0.0159 S. In polar form: ∣Ytotal∣ = 0.022+(−0.0159)² = 0.02555 ∠−38.49° S.

Detailed Explanation

To find the total admittance (Ytotal) of the parallel circuit, we sum the admittance contributions from both the resistor and inductor. The result has both a real part (from the resistor) and an imaginary part (from the inductor). We then convert it to polar form to find the magnitude and angle.

Examples & Analogies

Think of admittance as all the different paths on a hiking trail (voltage sources). The easier paths (resistance) allow hikers to flow quickly, while tougher paths (reactance) let fewer hikers pass at once. When you total all the paths, you can see how easy or difficult it is to traverse the entire area.

Total Current Calculation

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Itotal = Vsource × Ytotal = (100∠0°) × (0.02555∠-38.49°) = 2.555∠-38.49° A.

Detailed Explanation

The total current drawn from the supply is calculated by multiplying the source voltage (Vsource) by the total admittance (Ytotal). This gives us a complex representation of current, indicating both its magnitude and phase angle relative to the voltage, showing that current lags the voltage, which is typical in inductive circuits.

Examples & Analogies

If you think of the current as the flow of traffic, the source voltage is the road that directs the cars. The total current shows how many cars are on the road but also indicates how their speed relates to the direction of the road – whether they are speeding up or slowing down along the way.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • RL Parallel Circuit: A configuration where a resistor and inductor are connected in parallel to an AC source.

  • Inductive Reactance: A measure of the opposition to current flow in an inductor, which increases with frequency.

  • Admittance: The measure of how easily current can flow in a circuit, calculated using the reciprocal of impedance.

  • Total Current: The summation of individual branch currents in a parallel circuit, which is affected by component characteristics.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Calculating total current in a parallel RL circuit using an AC supply by first finding angular frequency and inductive reactance.

  • Understanding the effect of phase angle on currents in a parallel circuit with a resistor and inductor.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • In a parallel circuit, the voltage is clear, Current splits quick, and that's no fear.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a water park with two slides: one steep (the resistor) and one long (the inductor). The water flows to both slides at the same time — despite their differences, they show us the beauty of parallel flow!

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • RIPE: Resistor current is Parallel, Energy flows.

🎯 Super Acronyms

RAC

  • Resistor Admittance Calculation.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Admittance

    Definition:

    The measure of how easily a circuit allows current to flow; the reciprocal of impedance.

  • Term: Inductive Reactance (XL)

    Definition:

    The opposition to the change in current flow caused by inductors in an AC system.

  • Term: Angular Frequency (ω)

    Definition:

    The rate of change of the phase of a sinusoidal waveform, expressed in radians per second.

  • Term: Total Current

    Definition:

    The sum of currents flowing through all branches in a parallel circuit.

  • Term: Resistor

    Definition:

    A component in an electrical circuit that resists the flow of current, measured in ohms.