EEE1001:Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Thevenin's and Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Dr. ARUN S L
Assistant professor,
Dept. of Electrical Engineering, SELECT
VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
 Thevenin’s Theorem
7 4
IL
Find IL for the given circuit 24 V
10 RL=6

7
7 2A 7 2A 7 4
1A 1A IL=1A
24 V 24 V 24 V 24 V 24 V
10 10 5 12 10 10
10 RL=6

7 4
IL=?
24 V
10 RL=10
RTh
Complex VTh RL
RL
7 4 Network
IL=?
24 V
10 RL=10 Thevenin s Equivalent
Circuit

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 2
 Thevenin’s Theorem

Any linear, bilateral network having terminals A and B can be replaced by a single
source of e.m.f. VTh in series with a single resistance RTh.
(i) The e.m.f. VTh is the voltage obtained across terminals A and B with load, if any removed
i.e. it is open-circuited voltage between terminals A and B.
(ii) The resistance RTh is the resistance of the network measured between terminals A and B
with load removed and sources of e.m.f. replaced by their internal resistances. Voltage
sources are replaced with short circuits and current sources are replaced with open
circuits.

A A
RTh
Complex
RL VTh RL
Network

B B
Thevenin s Equivalent
Circuit

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 3
 Thevenin’s Theorem
R1 R2
Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit
1. Open the two terminals (i.e., remove any load) between V
R3 RL
which you want to find Thevenin equivalent circuit.
2. Find the open-circuit voltage between the two open R1 R2
terminals. It is called Thevenin voltage VTh. 𝑉𝑇ℎ = Volatge across 𝑅3
3. Determine the resistance between the two open terminals V R3 VTh 𝑉
with all voltage sources shorted and all current sources 𝑉𝑇ℎ = 𝑅
𝑅1 + 𝑅3 3
opened. It is called Thevenin resistance RTh.
R1 R2
4. Connect VTh and RTh in series to produce Thevenin
equivalent circuit between the two terminals under 𝑅1 𝑅3
R3 RTh 𝑅𝑇ℎ = 𝑅2 +
consideration. 𝑅1 + 𝑅3
5. Place the load resistor removed in step (1) across the RTh
terminals of the Thevenin equivalent circuit. The load
current can now be calculated using only Ohm’s law and it 𝑉𝑇ℎ
VTh RL
𝐼𝐿 =
has the same value as the load current in the original 𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝐿
circuit.

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 4
 Thevenin’s Theorem
Example Solution:
Step 1: 4 I1 I2 5 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 0
Find the current flowing through 6Ω
𝑉𝑇ℎ − 4.5 𝑉𝑇ℎ − 3
resistor using Thevenin’s theorem. 4.5 V 3V + =0
VTh 4 5
4 5 𝑉𝑇ℎ = 3.83𝑉

4.5 V 3V Step 2: 4 5
6

4×5
RTh 𝑅𝑇ℎ = = 2.22Ω
4+5

RTh=
Step 3: 2.22 𝑉𝑇ℎ
𝐼6Ω =
𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝐿
VTh = 6
3.83 V 3.83
𝐼6Ω = = 0.47𝐴
2.22 + 6

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 5
 Thevenin’s Theorem
Solution:
Find the current flowing through 1Ω
Step 1: 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 2
resistor using Thevenin’s theorem.
6 V1 6
6 6 𝑉1 − 12 𝑉1
I1 I2 + = 2; 𝑉1 = 15𝑉
6 10
12 V 2A VTh
4 𝑉1
12 V 2A 𝐼2 = = 1.5𝐴
4 1
10
𝑉𝑇ℎ = 𝐼2 × 4 = 6𝑉
6 6
Step 2:
12 × 4
𝑅𝑇ℎ = = 3Ω
4 RTh 12 4 RTh
12 + 4

RTh
𝑉𝑇ℎ
Step 3: 𝐼𝐿 =
𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝐿

VTh RL 6
𝐼𝐿 = = 1.5𝐴
3+1
Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 6
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
In d.c. circuits, maximum power is transferred from a source to load when the load
resistance is made equal to the internal resistance of the source as viewed from the load
terminals with load removed and all e.m.f. sources replaced by their internal resistances.

A
V = 12V RI = 3 Ω
Complex
RL
Network 𝑽 Power Delivered to Load
I RI RL 𝑰=
B 𝑹 𝑰 + 𝑹𝑳 𝑷𝑳 = 𝑰𝟐 ∗ 𝑹𝑳
1Ω I=3 A 𝐏𝐋 = 𝟗 𝐖
V RL
2Ω I=2.4 A 𝐏𝐋 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓𝟐 𝐖
A
RI 3Ω I=2 A 𝐏𝐋 = 𝟏𝟐 𝐖
V RL
4Ω I=1.71 A 𝐏𝐋 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟔𝟗 𝐖
B 5Ω I=1.5 A 𝐏𝐋 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝐖
6Ω I=1.33 A 𝐏𝐋 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔𝟏 𝐖

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 7
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Proof of Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

𝑉
𝐼= (𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 )(𝑅𝐼 − 𝑅𝐿 ) = 0
I RI 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼
(𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 ) ≠ 0
2
2
𝑉
𝑃𝐿 = 𝐼 𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝐿
V RL 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 𝑅𝐼 − 𝑅𝐿 = 0

𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝐼
𝑑𝑃𝐿 2
(𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 )2 − 2𝑅𝐿 (𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 )
=𝑉 =0 Load resistance = Internal resistance
𝑑𝑅𝐿 (𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 )4

(𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 )2 − 2𝑅𝐿 (𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 ) = 0

(𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 )(𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 − 2𝑅𝐿 ) = 0

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 8
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Important Points

 The circuit efficiency at maximum power transfer is only 50% as one-half of the total power
generated is dissipated in the internal resistance Ri of the source.

Output Power 𝐼 2 𝑅𝐿 𝑅𝐿 1
𝜂= = 2 = = = 50%
Input Power 𝐼 (𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 ) 2𝑅𝐿 2

 Under the conditions of maximum power transfer, the load voltage is one-half of the open
circuited voltage at the load terminals.
𝑉 𝑉
𝑉𝐿 = 𝐼𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝐿 =
𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 2

 Value of maximum power transferred

2
𝑉 𝑉2
𝑃𝐿,𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑅𝐿 =
𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 4𝑅𝐿

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 9
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Example Solution:
Step 1: 10
V1
Find the value of resistance R to have
maximum power transfer in the circuit 𝑉1 − 120 𝑉1
120 V VTh 6A + =6
shown in figure. Also obtain the 5 10 5
amount of maximum power
𝑉𝑇ℎ = 𝑉1 = 60𝑉
10
Step 2: A
10 × 5
𝑅𝑇ℎ = 10Ω||5Ω = = 3.33Ω
120 V 5
10Ω 5
10 + 5
R 5 6A
𝑅 = 𝑅𝑇ℎ = 3.33Ω
B
Step 3: RI =3.33

𝑉𝑇2 602
𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = = = 270𝑊
60 V RL=3.33 4𝑅𝐿 4 × 3.33

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 10
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Tutorial Calculate the value of R which will absorb maximum power from the circuit shown in
figure. Also find the value of maximum power.

6 6V

2A 15 3 R
8V

Solution:
RI =2.625

60 V RL=2.625

maximum power transferred =11.52W

Dr. Arun S L, Assi Prof., SELECT, VIT Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 11