Kuwait University

Mechanical Engineering Department

College of Engineering and Petroleum
System Dynamics 600203
Dr. Khaled Alhazza
Variables

Lecture Note 13 (Electrical Systems)

Energy supplied is stored in its magnetic field.
Steady-state response: e=0, Short Circuit
Voltage Source
Maintain specified voltage across two points,
regardless of the required current.

Basic Modeling Elements

Resistor
Ohms Law Voltage across is proportional to the
through current.

Current Source
Maintain specified current, regardless of the
required voltage.

Modeling of Electrical Systems

Dissipates energy through heat.

Analogous to friction elements in mechanical

systems, e.g. dampers
Capacitor
- Charge collected is proportional to the voltage
across.
- Current is proportional to the rate of change of
the voltage across.

The two most useful physical laws for modeling

electrical systems are Kirchhoffs laws. To apply
these two laws effectively, a sign convention
should be employed.
A.
Node Method: Kirchhoffs Current Law
(KCL)
KCL states that the algebraic sum of all currents
entering (in) a circuit node is zero. The following
examples show the sign convention for the KCL
node method
a)
b)
c)

Energy supplied is stored in its electric field and

can affect future circuit response.
Steady-state response: i=0, Open Circuit
Inductor
Voltage across is proportional to the rate of the
change of the through current.

B.

Loop Method: Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

(KVL)
In KVL, The sum of all voltage drops around a
circuit loop is zero.

As an example, consider the electrical circuit

shown in the next Figure, which shows the
recommended sign convention for the loop

method. Within each element, the current flows

from the high-voltage terminal to the low-voltage
end. Across each element, the voltage drop has the
same direction as the current flow. For this loop
we have

Taking the time derivative of both sides of the

equation to eliminate the integral term, we obtain

For the purpose of getting the natural frequency

and damping ratio, the equation is divided by L as

Thus,

RLC Circuit
EXAMPLE
Consider the simple RLC electrical system shown.
The systems consists of a resistor of resistance R,
an inductor of inductance L, a capacitor of
capacitance C, and an applied (input) voltage Va.
Derive the differential equation and find the
natural frequency, damping ratio, and the inputoutput relation of the circuit.
Solution
The system is governed by one differential
equation, because it has one input, Va(t), and one
output, i(t), as the independent current. Thus, we
will apply KVL and the loop method with the sign
convention shown.

Taking the Laplace transform of the preceding

differential equation and letting all the initial
conditions be zero, the resulting Laplace
transformed equation is

Example
a) Use the mesh-current method to determine the
power associated with each voltage source in the
circuit shown.
b) Calculate the voltage V across the 8 resistor.

or

The three mesh currents are

Introducing the elemental voltage relations into the
equation, and dropping the subscripts (because all
the currents are the same), iR iL iC i

The minus sign means that this source is delivering

power

b)

Series and Parallel Circuits

1-Series
Example
The resistors used in the voltage-divider circuit
shown have a tolerance of 10%. Find the
maximum and minimum value of v0
we apply Kirchhoffs voltage law

the maximum value of V( occurs when R is 10%

high and R is 10% low, and the minimum value of
v occurs when R is 10% low and R is 10% high.
Therefore

2- Parallel
Example

Using Kirchhoffs current law and Ohms law.

EXERCISE
For the circuit shown, find (a) the voltage v, (b) the
power delivered to the circuit by the current
source, and (c) the power dissipated in the 10
resistor.

ANSWER:
SERIES-PARALLEL COMBINATIONS OF
INDUCTANCE AND CAPACITANCE
1- Inductors in series.

Example
Find is, i1 and i2 in the circuit shown

2- Inductors in parallel.

EXERCISE
Assume that the initial energy stored in the
inductors is zero. Find the equivalent inductance
with respect to the terminals a,b.

EXERCISE
Find the equivalent capacitance with respect to the
terminals a,b for the circuit shown.

3- Capacitors connected in series.

4- Capacitors in parallel.

Remember