Series Resonant Circuit

• In a series RLC circuit there becomes a frequency point were the inductive reactance of the inductor
becomes equal in value to the capacitive reactance of the capacitor.
• In other words, XL = XC. The point at which this occurs is called the Resonant Frequency point, ( ƒr ) of
the circuit, and as we are analyzing a series RLC circuit this resonance frequency produces a Series
Resonance.
• They can be found in various forms such as in AC mains filters, noise filters and also in radio and
television tuning circuits producing a very selective tuning circuit for the receiving of the different
frequency channels.

• For inductive reactance, if either the Frequency or the Inductance is increased the overall inductive
reactance value of the inductor would also increase.
• As the frequency approaches infinity, the inductors reactance would also increase towards infinity
with the circuit element acting like an open circuit.
• However, as the frequency approaches zero or DC, the inductors reactance would decrease to zero,
causing the opposite effect acting like a short circuit. This means then that inductive reactance is
“Proportional” to frequency and is small at low frequencies and high at higher frequencies and this
demonstrated in the following curve:
• The same is also true for the capacitive reactance formula above but in reverse. If either the Frequency
or the Capacitance is increased the overall capacitive reactance would decrease. As the frequency
approaches infinity, the capacitors reactance would reduce to practically zero causing the circuit
element to act like a perfect conductor of 0Ω.
• But as the frequency approaches zero or DC level, the capacitors reactance would rapidly increase up
to infinity causing it to act like a very large resistance, becoming more like an open circuit condition.
This means then that capacitive reactance is “Inversely proportional” to frequency for any given value
of capacitance and this shown below:

• At a higher frequency XL is high and at a low frequency XC is high. Then there must be a frequency
point were the value of XL is the same as the value of XC and there is.

• In a series resonant circuit, the resonant frequency, ƒr point can be calculated as follows.
• In complex form, the resonant frequency is the frequency at which the total impedance of a series
RLC circuit becomes purely “real”, that is no imaginary impedance’s exist. This is because at resonance
they are cancelled out. So the total impedance of the series circuit becomes just the value of the
resistance and therefore: Z = R.
• You may also note that if the circuits impedance is at its minimum at resonance then consequently,
the circuits admittance must be at its maximum and one of the characteristics of a series resonance
circuit is that admittance is very high. But this can be a bad thing because a very low value of resistance
at resonance means that the resulting current flowing through the circuit may be dangerously high.
• Then if at resonance the two reactance’s are equal and cancelling, the two voltages representing VL
and VC must also be opposite and equal in value thereby cancelling each other out because with pure
components the phasor voltages are drawn at +90o and -90o respectively.
• Therefore, VR = Vsupply and it is for this reason that series resonance circuits are known as voltage
resonance circuits

Q meter
• A high value of Q is always desirable as it means high inductive reactance and low resistance. A low
value of Q indicates that the resistance component is relatively high and so there is a comparatively
large loss of power.
• One possible way for determination of Q is by using the inductance bridge but such bridge circuits are
rarely capable of giving accurate measurements, when Q is high. So special meters are used for
determination of Q accurately.
• This instrument operates on the principle of series resonance i.e. at resonate condition of an ac series
circuit voltage across the capacitor is equal to the applied voltage times of Q of the circuit. If the
voltage applied across the circuit is kept-constant then voltmeter connected across the capacitor can
be calibrated to indicate Q directly.
• A wide-range os-cillator with frequency range from 50 kHz to 50 MHz is used as a power supply to the
cir-cuit. The output of the oscillator is shorted by a low-value resistance, Rsh usually of the or-der of
0.02 ohm. So it in-troduces almost no resistance into the oscillatory circuit and represents a voltage
source with a very small or of almost negligible internal resistance. The voltage across the low-value
shunt resistance Rsh, V is measured by a thermo-couple meter and the voltage across the capacitor,
Vc is measured by an electronic voltmeter.
• For carrying out the measurement, the unknown coil is connected to the test terminals of the
instrument, and the circuit is tuned to resonance either by varying the frequency of the oscillator or
by varying the resonating capacitor C. Readings of voltages across capacitor C and shunt resistance
Rsh are obtained and Q-factor of the coil is deter-mined as follows :

By definition Q-factor of the coil,

Q = XL / R

And when the circuit is under resonance condition

XL = XC

Or IXL = IXC = V

And the voltage applied to the circuit.

V = IR

So, Q = XL / R = IXL / R = VC / V

• This Q-factor is called the circuit Q because this measurement includes the losses of the resonating
capacitor, voltmeter and the shunt resistor Rsh. So, the actual Q-factor of the coil will be somewhat
greater than the calculated Q-factor. This difference is usually very small and maybe neglected.,
except when the resistance of the coil under test is relatively small in comparison to the shunt
resistance Rsh.

• The inductance of the coil can also be computed from the known values of frequency f and resonating
capacitor C as follows.

At resonance, XL= XC or 2∏fL = 1/2∏fC or L = 1/ (2∏f)2 Henry.

• Radio frequency 20 KHZ- 300 GHZ