Complex Notation for AC Quantities:

Complex Impedance
Aims:
To appreciate:
Use of complex quantities.
Role of impedance and j.
Influence of power factor.
Appreciate operation of low, high and band pass filters
To be able:
To analyse some basic circuits.
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Lecture 12

Revision of Complex Number Arithmetic

what is j?

three ways to express a complex number

j = 1

Z = R + jX

j = 1

Z = R 2 + X 2 (modulus) : tan =

j 3 = 1 = j

R is real part; X is imaginary part

X
(argument)
R

Z = Z e j

1
=j
j

Z = Z (cos + j sin )
complex arithmetic

Z1 + Z 2 = ( R1 + R2 ) + j ( X 1 + X 2 )
Z1Z 2 = Z1 Z 2 e

j (1 +2 )

Z = R jX = Z e j (complex conjugate)

Z
Z1
= 1 e j (1 2 )
Z2 Z2
jZ = Z e

j +
2

complex conjugate
*

ZZ * = R 2 + X 2

j
Z
= Z e 2
j

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Lecture 12

Phasors as Complex Numbers

If we plot phasors on an Argand
diagram we can use complex
number representation:

Imaginary

Vsin t

t
Vcos t

Real

V t V (cos t + j sin t )
Which means that we can use the
powerful tools of complex algebra
to manipulate AC quantities.

Note that we use j for -1 and not i

This is to avoid confusion with i as a
symbol for currents.
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Lecture 12

Complex AC quantities
In general, all AC quantities are complex numbers containing amplitude and phase:
Voltage
Current
Impedance

V = VRE + jVIM = V e j
I = I RE + jI IM = I e j
Z = R + jX = Z e j

The complex quantities obey all the laws and techniques that we
have derived for DC networks:
Kirchhoffs Current Law
Kirchhoffs Voltage Law
Ohms Law V=IZ
Impedances in series: Z = Z1+Z1
Impedances in parallel: Y = Y1+Y2
The physical significance of the real and imaginary parts of current and voltage:
Real currents and voltages are associated with energy dissipation (power
averaged over one cycle is positive).
Measurable
Imaginary parts are associated with energy storage (power averaged over
one cycle is zero charging and discharging). Not measurable
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Lecture 12

Look Back at Inductive Reactance:

Let

dI

L
I L = I o e jt and we know that VL = L dt

What is VL ?

The reciprocal of impedance is ADMITTANCE, symbol Y, units Siemens

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Lecture 12

Look Back at Capacitative Reactance:

Let

dV

C
VC = Vo e jt and we know that I C = C dt

What is IC ?

The reciprocal of impedance is ADMITTANCE, symbol Y, units Siemens

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Lecture 12

Power in AC Circuits
Power in an AC circuit is given by W=VI

V = V0 e jt
I = I 0 e j (t + )
W = V0 I 0 e j (2t + )

This reduces to:

W = V0 I 0 cos e + j 2t + sin e j 2t

Reactive power

Resistive power

If we average over one cycle (from t=0 to t=2/):

e+j2t averages to and e-j2t averages to 0, so

1
W = V0 I 0 cos
2

or W = VRMS I RMS cos

The cos term is called the power factor

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Lecture 12

Power Factor:
W = VRMS I RMS cos
This tells us that when the current and voltage are /2 out of phase
(e.g.in a pure L or pure C), the power dissipated is zero.
Power factor is a big issue for electrical engineers.
Many industrial loads have a high inductance in
series with the resistance (e.g. heating coils for
large tanks)
This can affect the power factor and reduce the
power dissipated in the resistor.
In many cases a capacitor is used to correct the
power factor

50 Hz
Power factor correction

Power ratings of industrial equipment are often quoted in

kVA kilo-volt-amp rather than kW to indicate that
the power factor may not be 1
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Lecture 12

12

RC Network with Complex Numbers

I
V

VR

VC

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Lecture 12

13

RCL Network in Series

L

C
V
R
VR

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Lecture 12

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RCL Network in Series

3. Get the current
R

I=

4. Get the voltage across the resistor

1. Complex impedance is given by

Z = R + jX

VR = IR =

1
where X = L
C

1 2 LC
Z = R2 +

RVA j (t )
e
Z

VR
R j
=
e
V
Z

2. Convert to exponential form for multiplication:

VR
=
V

X LC 1
=
R
CR
Z = Z e j
2

tan =

VAe jt VA j (t )
=
e
Z e j
Z

1
1 LC
1+

CR
2

e j

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Lecture 12

RCL Network in Series

VR
=
VAe jt

C
VA
R
VR

1
1 LC
1+

CR
2

e j

when =0, denominator , VR 0

when , denominator , VR 0
when = 0, denominator = 1, VR=VA

0 =

1
LC

VR

This is a series resonant circuit.

At resonance XC=-XL so the
reactance in the circuit is zero

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Lecture 12

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