Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department

Electrical Circuits 2 (Laboratory)

CIRCUIT2LAB – L093

Experiment No. 7

POWER DISSIPATION IN AC CIRCUITS

Engr. Jomel R. Cristobal, R.E.E

Principal Engineer C
Grid Code Compliance and TDP Monitoring Department
National Transmission Corporation
jomelcristobal@ymail.com

Name Signature
1. Bandigan, Harvey Dominic C.
2. Bueta, Denzel Mark R.
3. Calara, Victor Emmanuel B.
4. Lubag, Patrick Angelo B.
5. Mansibag,George Jr D.
6. Pagarigan Andre Joseph
7. Pineda, Pauline H.
8. Trinidad, Paulo Isaac

Introduction 7.1
In an ac circuit containing both resistance and reactive components, the total real
power dissipated as heat is in resistance. The unit of measurement for real power is the
watt (W).
Because of the phase shift that they introduce. Reactive components draw power from
the source during one part of the cycle, then supply power to the source at other times.
This power is called reactive power, and its unit of measurement is the volt ampere
reactive (var). In pure ideal reactive circuit (no resistance), the net effect is zero per
consumption. Due to the voltage and current being out of phase in a circuit with both
resistance and reactance (impedance), the source voltage can be multiplied by the
circuit current to give a power greater than the real power. This apparent power (S) in
the rms current through the impedance. Its unit of measurement is the volt ampere
(VA)

S = VZrms x Irms
Refer to the circuit in Figure 7-1. Two resistors, a capacitor and an inductor are series
connected across an ac source (VGEN). Because the current is common to all parts of the
circuit, we multiply the current by each component voltage in order to get the power
value of each component.
In the following procedure, we will be working with the average power values, so
rms values of sinusoidal currents and voltages must be used. Used the following
equation to change the peak to peak values you take on the oscilloscope to rms values.

V pk− pk
V rms =
2 √2

Figure 7.1
Multiply, the rms circuit current that flows through either R 1 and R2 will give the real
power (P) of either resistor in watts (W). The total real power dissipated in the circuit
will be the sum of those two powers. Multiplying the rms circuit current through C 1 by
the terms rms voltage across C1 will give the reactive power (QC1) in vars. A similar
result, reactive power in L1 (QL1) in vars, will occur when the rms circuit current through
L1 is multiplied by the rms voltage across L1. All the reactive power from each reactive
(C or L) will be added (+ for inductive and – for capacitive) to find the total reactive
power delivered by the source (VGEN). In addition, the apparent power (S) in VA,which is
the power supplied by the source (VGEN) will be determined from then rms circuit current
through the impedance multiplied by the rms voltage of the source (V GEN).
III. Preliminary Data Sheet
ACTIVITY 7
Objectives of the Activity

6A.5 Materials/Equipment
The objectives of this activity are to:

1. determine the AC power division among the components of an RLC circuit

using standard power formulas.

2. verify the results with an oscilloscope.

.
7.5 Materials/Equipment

1 – F.A.C.E.T. Base Unit

1 – AC2 FUNDAMENTALS Circuit Board
2 – 15Vdc Power Supply
1 – Oscilloscope, dual trace
1 – Generator, sine wave

7.6 Procedure/s
1. Adjust the dc power sources to + 15 Vdc. Turn the power sources off. Insert the
AC2 FUNDAMENTALS circuit board into the base unit. Install the GENERATOR
BUFFER if required. Turn on the power sources.

2. Locate the RLC/ RESONANCE/ POWER circuit block and connect the circuit
shown in Figure 7-2. Adjust VGEN for 15Vpk-pk 20 kHz sine wave (remember to use
the oscilloscope to adjust the amplitude and frequency setting).
NOTE: In this procedure, you will calculate and measure average power therefore, you
will be required to change your peak to peak values of current and voltage to rms
values.
Figure 7.2
3. Calculate and record the rms value of VGEN the rms value of VGEN which was
√ 2V GEN ( pk − pk )
V GEN ( rms )=
adjusted to 15 Vpk-pk in step 2 4 .
VGEN(rms) = ___5.303_____V

4. Using current-sensing resistor R3’ adjust the frequency of the generator for a
circuit current of 6mApk-pk (I = VR3/R3).If necessary, readjust VGEN for 15 Vpk-pk.
NOTE: Be sure to remember the two-post connector that shorts R3 when you measure
current. Replace the two-post connector after taking your measurement.

5. Calculate and record the rms value if I (6 mApk-pk), which you adjusted in step 4
√2(6 mA( pk− pk ))
I rms= .
4

Irms = 2.121 mA

6. Refer to Figure 6-2. The real power (P) in watts is dissipated as heat in resistor
R2. Measure the voltage drop across R2 (VR2) by using the ADD-INVERT method.
Calculate and record the power in R2. Be sure to change your peak-to-peak
measurement values. What type of power measurement results from this
calculation, average power or ower (P = Irms VR3rms’ where I is the rms circuit
current you calculated in step 5)?
VR2rms = 2.1 V PR2 = 4.454 W

7. Measure the voltage drop across C1 (VC1). Calculate the reactive power in
capacitor C1 (QC1) and record your answer in vars. Because most of the energy
stored by C1 is returned to VGEN’ is there any power dissipated in C1?
(QC1 = Irms x VC1rms)
 VC1rms = 7.701 V, QC1 = 14.998 VAR

8. In the above steps, you determined the power in R1 and C1 by using the equation
P = IE. You could also have used two other equations that you learned in DC
FUNDAMENTALS: P= I2R or P= E2/R. In the next two steps, you will determine
the reactive power in L1 (QL1) by using the equation P = I2R, where R equals XL1.

9. Determine XL1 by measuring the voltage across L1 (VL1) and dividing by the circuit
current (I). Use the ADD-INVERT method to measure V L1. Record your results.
(XL1 = VL1rms / Irms)
XL1 = 1416.785 Ω

10. Calculate and record the reactive power in inductor L1 (QL1) in vars. Like the
capacitor, most of the energy in the inductor is returned to the source. However,
due to the ac resistance of the coil, some real power is dissipated as heat in this
resistance. Usually this resistance is small as compared to the circuit resistance,
so we will not include it in this procedure.(QL1 = Irms2 x XL1)

QL1 = 6.2524 mvars

11. Calculate and record the apparent power (S) of VGEN’ Because VGEN is out of phase
with the circuit current (I) due to the reactance (X L and XC), the power is
apparent instead of real. If the unit of measurement for apparent power is VA,
what is the unit of measurement for real (in phase) power
(S = VGENrms x Irms ) S = 11.248 mvar

12. Set CM switch 10 in the ON position to change the value of C1 to 0.0044 μF.
Using current-sensing resistor R3’ adjust the frequency for a current of 12 mApk-pk.

Irms12mApk-pk = 4.24 mA

13. Increasing the value of C1 causes the capacitive reactance (XC) to decrease in
value. Would you expect the wattage in R2 to increase or to decrease?
Increasing the value of c1, also cause the wattage in R2 to increase.
14. Using any of the three equations mentioned in step 8, determine the real power
dissipated in R2. Be sure to change your measurements of current of voltage
 from peak-to-peak values to rms values before using them in your equation. Use
the color code of R2 to determine its resistive values.

PR2 = 17.99 mW, R2 = 1000 Ω

15. Using the equations S = Irms x VGENrms’ determine and record the apparent power
of VGEN. What is the unit of measurement for apparent power? The unit
measurement for apparent power is VAR

S = 22.273 mVAR
16. Turn off CM switch 10 and turn off the power sources.
V. Interpretation of Results
The group in this experiment are tasked to determine the AC power division

among the components of an RLC circuit using standard power formulas,

specifically the reactive, apparent, and real powers. This experiment showed how

AC circuit differs with the functionality of DC circuits when power is being

considered as the primary variable. In a DC circuit, the voltages and currents are

generally constant, that is not varying with time as there is no sinusoidal

waveform associated with the supply. However in an AC circuit, the

instantaneous values of the voltage, current and therefore power are constantly

changing being influenced by the supply.

VI. Conclusion
We therefore conclude that in this experiment the objective was met. Also, we are able
to determine the differences between the different types of power in AC analysis of
circuit. In order to compute the power dissipation, we have to consider different
parameters like capacitance, inductance, resistance, and voltage source. Moreover, in a
purely reactive circuit, no circuit power is dissipated by the loads. Rather, power is
alternately absorbed from and returned to the AC source. Voltage and current are 90
degrees out of phase with each other. Also, in a purely resistive circuit, all circuit power
is dissipated by the resistors. Furthermore, Power factor is used to determine the ratio
of the actual electrical power dissipated by an AC circuit to the product of the rms
values of current and voltage.

VII. Latest Innovation on the topic

Electrical power consumed by a resistance in an AC circuit is different to the power
consumed by a reactance as reactances do not dissipate energy

In a DC circuit, the power consumed is simply the product of the DC voltage times the
DC current, given in watts. However, for AC circuits with reactance we have to calculate
the power consumed differently.Electrical power is the “rate” at which energy is being
consumed in a circuit and as such all electrical and electronic components and devices
have a limit to the amount of electrical power that they can safely handle. For example,
a 1/4 watt resistor or a 20 watt amplifier.
Electrical power can be time-varying either as a DC quantity or as an AC quantity. The
amount of power in a circuit at any instant of time is called the instantaneous power
and is given by the well-known relationship of power equals volts times amps (P = V*I).
So one watt (which is the rate of expending energy at one joule per second) will be
equal to the volt-ampere product of one volt times one ampere.
Then the power absorbed or supplied by a circuit element is the product of the voltage,
V across the element, and the current, I flowing through it. So if we had a DC circuit
with a resistance of “R” ohms, the power dissipated by the resistor in watts is given by
any of the following generalized formulas. So power within an electrical circuit is only
present when both the voltage and current are present, that is no open-circuit or
closed-circuit conditions. Consider the following simple example of a standard resistive
dc circuit.

VIII. Recommendations

 Before you proceed to your experiment make sure that the equipment are
properly calibrated and in good condition.
 Members should familiarize the equipment’s for efficiency.