Series RC AC Circuit

It

R R VR

jXc
C VXC

Impedance (Z),

𝑧 = √𝑅 2 + (𝑋𝐶 )2
in complex form,

𝑧 = 𝑅 − 𝑗𝑋𝐶
Total current (It),
𝑉
𝐼𝑡 =
𝑧
Total voltage (V),

𝑉 = √(𝑉𝑅 )2 + (𝑉𝑋𝑐 )2

In complex form,

𝑉 = 𝑉𝑅 − 𝑗𝑉𝑋𝑐

Phasor diagram

It The current is leading the voltage by an

angle ϴ.
ϴ

V
V as a reference

VR
VXc The figure shows the phasor diagram of
It voltage drop across R and Xc with the
ϴ
resulting voltage which is V.
V
V as a reference
Active power (P):
𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 cos 𝜃 = (𝐼𝑡 )2 𝑅
Reactive power (Q):

𝑄 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 sin 𝜃 = (𝐼𝑡 )2 𝑋𝑐

Apparent power (S):

𝑆 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 = √𝑃2 + 𝑄 2

In complex form

𝑆 = 𝑃 + 𝑗𝑄
Examples:

1. A series circuit consist of a resistor 20 Ω and an inductor of 100 µF is connected to a 220V ac, 60 Hz
source. Calculate the ff.
a. Total current
b. Total power factor
c. Total active power taken by the circuit
d. Voltage drops in each element
e. Draw the phasor diagram showing the voltage drop in each element.

Solution:

It

20Ω R

V=220V
60 Hz
jXc
100 µF

1 1
𝑋𝑐 = = = 26.53 Ω
2𝜋𝑓𝐶 2𝜋(60)(100𝑥10−6 )

𝑍 = 20 − 𝑗26.53 Ω
a. Total current
𝑉 220
𝐼𝑡 = = = 6.62∠52.99𝑜
𝑍 20 − 𝑗26.53
 𝐼𝑡 = 6.62𝐴

b. Total power factor

𝑝𝑓 = cos 𝛳 = cos 52.99

𝑝𝑓 = 0.6 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

c. Active power

𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 cos 𝛳 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 𝑝𝑓 = 220(6.62)(0.6)

𝑃 = 873.84 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠

Or

𝑃 = (𝐼𝑡 )2 𝑅 = 6.622 (20)

𝑃 = 876.49 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠

d. Voltage drop in R

𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑅 = 6.62(20)

𝑉𝑅 = 132.4 𝑉

Voltage drop in Xc

𝑉𝑋𝑐 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑋𝑐 = 6.62(26.53)

𝑉𝑋𝑐 = 175.63 𝑉

Or

𝑉 = 220∠52.99𝑜

𝑉 = 132.43 − 𝑗175.68 𝑉
 e. Phasor diagram

VR=132.4 V

VXc = 175.63V
6.62 A
ϴ= 52.99
V = 220V

V as a reference

2. A series circuit consist of 66.2 µF capacitor and a variable resistor. For what two values of resistances will
the power taken by the circuit be 172.8 W, if the impressed 60Hz emf is 120V.

Solution:
1
𝑋𝑐 = = 40.07 Ω
(2𝜋)(60)(66.2𝑥10−6 )
120
𝐼𝑡 =
√𝑅 2 + 40.072

𝑃 = (𝐼𝑡 )2 𝑅

2
120
172.8 = ( ) 𝑅
√𝑅 2 + 40.072
Through algebraic manipulation, we can solve R

𝑅 = 53.09 Ω 𝑎𝑛𝑑 30.24 Ω

“Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work “