SINGLE PHASE CIRCUITS

RLC in SERIES

Current in a series circuit containing resistance,

inductive reactance and capacitive reactance is
determined by the total impedance of the combination.
The voltage drop across each element is found by
Ohm’s Law. IMPEDANCE IN SERIES RLC

When inductive reactance XL and capacitive reactance

are exactly equal in a series RLC circuit, a condition
called series resonance exists. Note that in a series
VL and VC are exactly 180 degrees out of phase and
resonance, the impedance of the circuit is equal to the
acting in exactly opposite directions, they are added
resistance of the circuit. This is the minimum value of
algebraically. When XL is greater than XC, the circuit is
impedance for the circuit. Therefore at resonance, the
inductive, VL is greater than VC and I lags VT.
highest current will flow.
When XC is greater than XL ,the circuit is capacitive, VC
RLC in PARALLEL
is greater than VL so that I leads VT.
The voltage is the same across each parallel branch. The
applied voltage VT is used as the reference line to
measure phase angle θ. When IL is greater than IC, IT
lags VT so the parallel RLC circuit is considered
inductive.

Sample problem.

In a RLC series ac circuit, find the applied voltage and

phase angle. Draw the voltage phasor diagram. If IC I greater than IL, the current relationships and
phasor triangle show that IT now leads VT so this type
By Ohm’s law, VR 8V; VL = 39V; VC = 24V of parallel RLC circuit is considered capacitive.

VT = 17V

Θ = 61.9° I lags VT.

 A convenient way to find IT is to:

1. Add algebraically the horizontal components of

I1 and I2 with respect to the phasor reference
VT.
2. Add algebraically the vertical components of I1
Impedance in parallel RLC
and I2;
The total impedance ZT of a parallel RLC circuit equals 3. Form a right triangle with these two sums as
the total voltage divided by the total current IT. legs and calculate the value of hypotenuse I and
its angle to the horizontal.
Sample problem.
For RL branch:
A 400 ohms resistor, 1 50 ohms inductive reactance,
and a 40 ohms capacitive reactance are placed in
parallel across a 120 V ac line. Find the phasor branch
currents, total current, phase angle and impedance.
Draw the phasor diagram.

IT leads VT. For RC branch:

ZT = 179 ohms

A parallel RLC circuit in which XL = XC is said to be in

parallel resonance.

RL and RC branches in parallel

Sample problem.

An ac circuit has a RL branch parallel to RC branch. Find

the total current, phase angle, and impedance of this
circuit.
For IT:
POWER and POWER FACTOR
When v and i are both positive or both negative,
their product p is positive. Therefore, power is
being expended throughout the cycle. If v is
negative while i is positive during part of the cycle,
or if i is negative when v is positive, their product
will be negative. This negative power is not
available for work; it is power returned to the line.
The product of the voltage across the resistance
and the current through the resistance is always
positive and is called the real power. Real power
can be considered as resistive power that is
dissipated as heat. Since the voltage across a
reactance is always 90 degrees out of phase with
the current through the reactance, the product px =
vxix is always negative. This product is called
reactive power, and is due to the reactance of a
circuit. Similarly, the product of the line voltage and
the line current is known as the apparent power.
The ratio of real power to apparent power is called
power factor. The power factor determines what
portion of the apparent power is real power. When
θ = 90 degrees, indicating that no power is being
expended or consumed.
A circuit in which the current lags the voltage, an
inductive circuit, is said to have a lagging PF; a
circuit in which the current leads the voltage,
capacitive circuit, is said to have a leading PF.
Sample problem. In the RLC series ac circuit shown
below, the line current of 2A lags the applied
voltage of 17V by 61.9 degrees. Find PF, P, Q, S and
draw the power triangle.
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
In order to make the most efficient use of the
current delivered to a load, we desire a high PF or a
PF that approaches unity. A low PF is generally due
to the large inductive load, which take a lagging
current. In order to correct this low PF, it is
necessary to bring the current as closely in phase
with the voltage as possible. This is usually done by
placing a capacitive load, which produces a leading
current, in parallel with the inductive load.
Sample problem.
1. An induction motor draws a 1.5 kW and 7.5 A
from a 220 V, 60 Hz line. What must be the
capacitance of a capacitor in parallel in order to
raise the total PF to unity?
Step1. Find the phase angle and the reactive
power of the motor load.
24.6degrees; 687 VAR lagging
 Step2. Find the current IC drawn by the
capacitor. For the current to have a PF=1, the
capacitor must have a QC = 687 VAR leading.
Since reactive power in a pure capacitor is also
its apparent power, QC = SC = VCIC.
IC = 3.12 A
Step3. Find the reactance of the capacitor.
XC = 70.5 ohms
Step4. Find the capacitance.
THREE PHASE TRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS
C = 37.6 microFarad
2. An induction motor takes 15kVA at 440 V and Three-phase transformers may consist of three
75 % PF lagging. What must be the PF of a 10 separate but identical 1- φ transformers or a single
KVA capacitive load connected in parallel in 3- φ unit containing three-phase windings. The
order to raise the total PF to unity? transformer’s windings (three in the primary and
Step1. Find the reactive power of the induction three in the secondary) may be connected to form a
motor, Qm. Qm = 9.92 kVAR lagging 3- φ bank in any one of four common ways. Each
Step2. Find the phase angle anf the PF for the primary winding is matched to the secondary
capacitive load. To have a circuit with PF = 1, winding drawn parallel to it.
the total reactive power must equal to zero.
Since the motor uses 9.92 kVAR lagging, the
leading PF must also use 9.92kVAR.
Phase angle = 82.7 degrees
PF = 12.7% leading

THREE-PHASE SYSTEMS

A Three-phase system (3-φ) system is a combination

of three single phase (1- φ) systems. In a 3- φ
balanced system, the power comes from an ac
generator that produces three separate but equal
voltages, each of which is out of phase with the
other voltages by 120 degrees.

Three-phase circuits require less weight of

conductors than 1- φ circuits of the same power
rating; they permit flexibility in the choice of
voltages; and they can be used for single-phase
loads. 3- φ equipment is smaller in size, lighter in
weight, and more efficient than 1- φ machinery of
the same rated capacity.
 Sample problems.
1. If the line voltage V is 2200 V to a 3- φ
2. For each type of transformer connection, find
Where:
V – line voltage
I – line current
a – N1/N2
A line voltage is a voltage between two lines, while
a phase voltage is a voltage across a transformer
winding. A line current is a current in one of the
lines, while a phase current is a current in the
transformer winding. Voltage and current ratings of
the individual transformers depend on the
connection shown above and are indicated in
tabular form for convenience in calculations. Ideal
transformers are assumed. The KVA rating of each
transformer is one-third of the KVA rating of the
bank, regardless of the transformer connection
used.
transformer bank, find the voltage across each
transformer primary winding for all types of
transformer connection.
Delta to delta: 2200 V
Wye to wye: 1270 V
Wye to delta: 1270 V
Delta to wye: 2200 V
the secondary line current and secondary phase
current if the primary line current I is 10.4 A and
the turns ratio is 2:1.
Delta to delta: line current = 20.8 A
Phase current = 12 A
Wye to wye: line current = 20.8 A
Phase current = 20.8 A
Wye to delta: line current = 36 A
Phase current = 20.8A
Delta to wye: line current = 12 A
Phase current = 12 A
The current in each secondary line will be out of
phase by 120 degrees with the current in the
other secondary lines. Likewise, the current in
each secondary winding will be out of phase by
120 degrees with the currents in the other
secondary windings.
POWER IN BALANCED THREE-PHASE LOADS
 the voltage between the wires is 220 V at a
PF of unity? 7612 W
2. Each phase of a 3- φ delta connected
generator supplies a full load current of 100
A at a voltage of 240 V and a PF of 0.6
lagging. Find the (a) line voltage, (b) line
current, (c) 3- φ power in KVA, and (d) 3- φ
power in KW.

a. 240 V; b. 173 A; c. 71.8 kVA; d. 43.1 kW

3. Three resistances of 20 ohms each are wye

connected to a 240 V 3- φ line operating at
a PF of unity. Find the (a) current through
each resistance, (b) line current, and (c)
power taken by the three resistances.

Ans. a. 6.94 A; b. 6.94 A; c. 2890 W

Since the phase impedance of balanced wye or

delta loads have equal currents, the phase
power or power of one phase is one-third the
total power.
Pp = VpIp cos θ
PT = 3VpIp cos θ = sq.rt.(3) VLIL cos θ

PT = sq.rt.(3) VLIL cos θ

ST = sq.rt.(3) VLIL
QT = sq.rt.(3) VLIL sin θ

Sample problems. 4. Repeat example 3 if the three resistances

1. How much power is delivered by a balanced are reconnected in delta.
3- φ system if each wire carries 20 A and
 UNBALANCED THREE-PHASE LOADS

A very important property of 3- φ balanced system is

that the phasor sum of the three line (or phase) votages
is zero, and the phasor sum of the three line (or phase)
current is zero. When the three load impedance are not
equal to each other, the phasor sum and the neutral
current IN are not zero, and we have an unbalanced
load. An imbalance occurs when an open or short circuit
appears at the load.

Sample problems.

a. 12 A; b. 20..8 A; c. 8640 W 1. Consider a balanced 3- φ system with a wye

5. A 3- φ wye connected transformer
secondary has a four-wire 208 V ABC
system. Thirty lamps, each rated at 120 V
and 2A, are to be connected across each
phase. Show the connection of the lamp
load if the load is to be balanced, nd
determine the power assumed by each
phase and the power consumed by the
system.
load. The line to line voltage is 173 V and the
resistance in each branch is 10 ohms. Find the
line current and neutral current under the
following three load conditions:
(a) balanced load, IL = Ip = 10A; IN = 0 A
(b) open circuit in line A; IB = IC = 8.66A; IN =
17.3A
(c) short circuit in line A; IB = IC = 17.3 A; IN = 30
A

VL = 208 V; Vp = 120 V

In order to have a balanced load, 30 lamps must be

distributed equally across three 120 V phases. Thus, 10
lamps are connected across each 120 V phase. The
power per phase Pp = 2400 W and the total power PT =
7200W.

6. A 3- φ three wire system has a line current

of 25 A and a line voltage of 1000 V. The
power factor of the load is 86.6 percent
lagging. Find (a) the real power delivered,
(b) the reactive power, and (c) the apparent
power. a. 37.5kW; b. 21.6 kVAR lagging;
c.43.3 kVA