Series RLC AC Circuit

It

R VR

V
jXL VXL

-jXc VXC

Impedance (Z)

𝒁 = √𝑹𝟐 + (𝑿𝑳 − 𝑿𝑪 )𝟐

𝒁 = 𝑹 + 𝒋(𝑿𝑳 − 𝑿𝑪 ) − 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚

Total current,
𝑉
𝐼𝑡 =
𝑍
Voltage drops,

𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑅
𝑉𝑋𝐿 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑋𝐿
𝑉𝑋𝐶 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑋𝐶

Power factor,
𝑅
𝑝𝑓 = cos 𝜃 =
𝑍
Phasor diagram,
 VXL VXL
VR

It
ϴ ϴ
It V
V
VXc
VR V as a reference VXc
V as a reference

Lagging Power Leading Power

factor factor

Sample problem

1. A series RLC circuit consist of a 25Ω resistor, a 0.221H inductor, and a 66.3 µF capacitor. For what value of
voltage source of 60Hz will the current be 2.5A?

Solution:

𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 = 2𝜋(60)(0.221)
𝑿𝑳 = 𝟖𝟑. 𝟑𝜴
1 1
𝑋𝐶 = =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶 2𝜋(60)(66.3𝑥10−6 )
𝑿𝑪 = 𝟒𝟎𝜴

𝑍 = √𝑅 2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2 = √252 + (83.3 − 40)2

𝒁 = 𝟓𝟎𝜴

𝑉 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑍 = 2.5(50)

𝑽 = 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝑽

2. An RLC series circuit consist of consist of a 55.4Ω resistor, a 0.17H inductor, and an 82.8µF capacitor. If the
potential drop across the resistor is 72V, calculate the emf of the 60Hz source.

Solution:

𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 = 2𝜋(60)(0.17)
𝑿𝑳 = 𝟔𝟒. 𝟎𝟗𝜴
1 1
𝑋𝐶 = =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶 2𝜋(60)(82.8𝑥10−6 )
𝑿𝑪 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟎𝟒𝜴
 𝑍 = √𝑅 2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2 = √55.42 + (64.09 − 32.04)2
𝒁 = 𝟔𝟒𝜴

𝑉𝑅
𝐼𝐶 = 𝐼𝐿 = 𝐼𝑅 = 𝐼𝑡 =
𝑅
72
𝐼𝑅 = = 𝟏. 𝟑𝑨
55.4

𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼𝑅 𝑅 = 1.3(55.4)
𝑽𝑹 = 𝟕𝟐. 𝟎𝟐𝑽
𝑉𝐿 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑋𝐿 = 1.3(64.09)
𝑽𝑳 = 𝟖𝟑. 𝟑𝟐𝑽
𝑉𝐶 = 𝐼𝑡 𝑋𝐶 = 1.3(32.04)
𝑽𝑪 = 𝟒𝟏. 𝟔𝟓𝑽

𝑉 = √(𝑉𝑅 )2 + (𝑉𝐿 − 𝑉𝐶 )2 = √72.022 + (83.32 − 41.65)2

𝑽 = 𝟖𝟑. 𝟐𝑽