Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Name Abraiz Abdur Rehman, Faraz Faheem

Reg. No 2023-EE-351, 2023-EE-367
Date 23-04-2024

OPEN ENDED LAB

Analysis of RL circuit response

Objectives:

1. Visualize and interpret the waveforms of current and voltage across an inductor.
2. Verify the equations governing current and voltage in RL circuits at different times.
3. Graphically determine the time constant of the inductor.

Equipment:
Multisim or any other simulation software

Inductors:
An inductor is a passive electronic component that stores energy in the form of a
magnetic field when an electric current flows through it. It consists of a coil of wire wound
around a core (Figure 1).
The amount of energy stored depends on the
inductance of the inductor, which is
determined by factors like the number of
turns in the coil and the material of the core.
Inductors are commonly used in circuits for
the following purposes:
 Filtering
Figure 13.1 - Inductor
 Energy Storage
 Signal processing
Combination of Inductors:
Series Combination:
When inductors are connected in series (Figure 2), their equivalent inductance
(denoted as Leq) is the sum of the individual inductances connected end to end.

𝐿𝑒𝑞 = 𝐿1 + 𝐿2 + 𝐿3 … + 𝐿𝑛

Figure 13.2 – Series Combination of Inductors

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Parallel Combination:

For inductors connected in parallel (Figure 3), the reciprocal of their

equivalent inductance is the sum of reciprocal of individual inductances.

1 1 1 1 1
= + + …+
𝐿𝑒𝑞 𝐿1 𝐿2 𝐿3 𝐿𝑛

Figure 13.3 - Parallel combination of Inductors

RL Charging Circuits:

When a resistor is connected in series with an inductor it form a RL circuit, in case of

charging a voltage source is also attached (Figure13.4). When voltage is applied, current
begins to flow through the inductor, but the current does not reach its maximum value due
to property of inductors to oppose the current. The required for an inductor to fully charge
depends on the inductance and the resistance connected in series and is equal to 5 time
constant (5τ), here tau (τ) is the time constant of the RL circuit and is equal to the time it
takes the RL circuit to charge up 63% of its maximum value. This time is the transient
response of the RL circuit and is calculated as follow:

𝐿
𝜏= (sec)
𝑅

Figure 13.4 - RL Circuit

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

RL Charging Curve:

If a graph is plotted between current (on the y-axis) through the inductor and time
(on the x-axis) for charging of an inductor, following curve is obtained (Figure 13.5):

Figure 13.5 - RL Charging Curve

Inductor Charging Equation:

𝑡
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡) = 𝑖(∞) + (𝑖(0) − 𝑖(∞))𝑒 − ⁄𝜏
Where 𝑖(0) is the current at t = 0, 𝑖(∞) is the current through the inductor when it is fully
charged and 𝜏 is the time constant.

RL Discharging Circuits:
In RL discharging circuit resistor is connected
with the resistor in series without any source
(Figure 13.6). Inductor discharging circuits
involve the release of stored energy from an
inductor (L) through a resistor (R) in series.
The time required by an inductor to fully
discharge is also equal to 5 times constant.
The time it takes for an inductor to discharge
to 37% is equal to 1 time constant (τ). It is
calculated as:

Figure 13.6 - RL Discharging Circuit

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

RL Discharging Curve:
If a graph is plotted between current (on the y-axis) through the inductor and time (on the x-
axis) for discharging of an inductor, following curve is obtained (Figure 13.7):

Figure 7 - RL Discharging curve

Inductor Discharging Equation:

𝑡
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡) = 𝑖(0). 𝑒 − ⁄𝜏

Circuit Diagram

Figure 8: RL Circuit to Analyse the behaviour of inductor.

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Task # 1: Derive equations for 𝒊𝑳 (𝒕) and 𝒗𝒐 (𝒕) when t > 0

At t = 0:

At t = 0, the above diagram will be (Fig 13.9):

Now at this time the inductor will be fully

charged, when the inductor is fully charged, it
acts as a short circuit, so the circuit becomes
(Fig 13.10):

Figure 13.9
𝑖(0)
Now finding 𝒊(𝟎) , which is the current flowing
through R1, using mesh analysis.

𝐼2 𝐼1 Applying KVL in mesh 1 and mesh 2, we get:

−6 + 𝐼1 𝑅2 + 𝑅1(𝐼1 − 𝐼2 ) = 0 → (1)

𝐼2 𝑅3 + 𝑅1(𝐼2 − 𝐼1 ) = 0 → (2)
Figure 10
Simplifying (1) we get: Solving (3) and (4), we have:

9𝐼1 − 6𝐼2 = 6 → (3) 𝐼1 = 1.33 𝐼2 = 1

Simplifying (2), we get: Thus:

−6𝐼1 + 8𝐼2 = 0 → (4) 𝑖(0) = 𝐼2 − 𝐼1 = 1 − 1.33 = −0.333 𝑚𝐴

At t > 0:

The switch is closed the circuit becomes (Fig 13.11):

Figure 11

Finding R (resistance in series with the inductor), thus shorting the voltage sources and opening
the inductor (Fig 11):

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Figure 13.12

The Simplified Circuit is (Fig 13.12):

Figure 13.13

Here R3, R2, and R4 are parallel so:

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4
= + + = + + =
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅3 𝑅2 𝑅4 2 3 2 3
3
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑘Ω
4

Figure 13.14

Here R1 and Req are in series (Fig 13.14), so

𝑅 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅𝑒𝑞

𝑅 = 6.75𝑘Ω

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Finding 𝒊(∞), for this shorting the inductor (in Fig 13. 8) as it will be fully charged at t = ∞ (Fig
13.15).

𝑖(∞)

𝐼𝑐 𝐼𝑏 𝐼𝑎

Figure 13.15

Applying KVL in mesh a, b and c, we get:

−6 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅2 − 12 + 𝑅4(𝐼𝑎 − 𝐼𝑏 ) = 0 → (5)

12 + 𝑅4(𝐼𝑏 − 𝐼𝑎 ) + 𝑅1(𝐼𝑏 − 𝐼𝑐 ) = 0 → (6)

𝑅1(𝐼𝑐 − 𝐼𝑏 ) + 𝑅3𝐼𝑐 = 0 → (7)

Simplifying the above equations, we have:

5𝐼𝑎 − 2𝐼𝑏 = 18 → (8)

2𝐼𝑎 + 8𝐼𝑏 − 6𝐼𝑐 = 12 → (9)

6𝐼𝑏 − 8𝐼𝑐 = 0 → (10)

Solving (8), (9) and (10), we get:
26 16 4
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑏 = − 𝐼𝑐 = −
9 9 3

Now: Also,

4 16 𝐿 6 6
𝑖(∞) = 𝐼𝑐 − 𝐼𝑏 = − − (− ) 𝜏= = =
3 9 𝑅 6.75𝑘 6750

4
𝑖(∞) = 𝜏 = 0.889 𝑚𝑠
9

As,
𝑡
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡) = 𝑖(∞) + (𝑖(0) − 𝑖(∞))𝑒 − ⁄𝜏
So the Equation for charging of inductor is:
4 1 4
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡) = + (− − ) 𝑒 −1125𝑡
9 3 9

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

4 7 −1125𝑡
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡) = − 𝑒
9 9
Finding 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡), as R1 is in series with the inductor, so the current through the inductor is 𝑖𝐿 (𝑡),
so according to ohm’s law:
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = 𝑖𝐿 (𝑡). 𝑅1
4 7 −1125𝑡
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = 6. ( − 𝑒 )
9 9
8 14 −1125𝑡
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = − 𝑒
3 3
Task # 2: Plot waveforms for 𝒊𝑳 (𝒕) and 𝒗𝒐 (𝒕)
Simulation (For 𝒊𝑳 (𝒕)):

Figure 13.16
Waveform:

Figure 13.17

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Simulation (For 𝒗𝒐 (𝒕)):

Figure 13.18

Waveform:

Figure 13.19

Task # 3: Find time constant of inductor through

1. Calculation
As,
𝐿
𝜏=
𝑅

From the Above calculations:

𝐿 = 6𝐻 and 𝑅 = 6.75 𝐾Ω
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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Now,
6𝐻
𝜏=
6.75𝐾Ω

𝜏 = 0.889 𝑚𝑠
2. Graphically
When inductor is fully(99%) charged:

Figure 13.20

In the Fig 13.20, the T1 pointer is at t = 0 i.e. when the charging starts and T2 point is at
the time when the inductor is 99% charged so (T2-T1) gives:

𝑇2 − 𝑇1 = 5𝜏 = 4.205 𝑚𝑠

𝜏 = 0.841 𝑚𝑠
When inductor is fully(99%) charged:
In the Fig 13.21, the T1 pointer is at t = 0 i.e. when the charging starts and T2 point is at
the time when the inductor is 63%, it is calculated as:
At 𝑡 = 0, 𝑖𝑜 = −0.333𝑚𝐴 and at 𝑡 = ∞, 𝑖∞ = 0.444𝑚𝐴
Now, ∆𝑖 = 𝑖∞ − 𝑖𝑜 = 0.444 − (−0.333) = 0.777
Hence, for 63% of the charge, ∆𝑖63 = 0.63 × ∆𝑖 = 0.63 × 0.777 = 0.489𝑚𝐴
The reading on the oscilloscope will be 𝑖 = 𝑖𝑜 + ∆𝑖63 = −0.333 + 0.489 = 0.157𝑚𝐴

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Figure 13.21
Here,

𝜏 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇1 = 909.1𝜇𝑠
𝜏 = 0.91𝑚𝑠
Task # 4: Find 𝒗𝒐 (𝒕) at t =1 ms , 1.4 ms and 2 ms. Verify these values using the
waveforms obtained from Task #2.
Mathematically:

8 14
As 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = 3 − 3 𝑒−1125𝑡 , thus:

8 14 8 14 8
𝑣𝑜 (0.001) = 3 − 3 𝑒−1125(0.001) = 3 − 3 𝑒−1.125 = 3 − 1.515 = 1.15𝑚𝑉

8 14 8 14 8
𝑣𝑜 (0.0014) = 3 − 3 𝑒−1125(0.0014) = 3 − 3 𝑒−1.575 = 3 − 0.966 = 1.7𝑚𝑉

8 14 8 14 8
𝑣𝑜 (0.002) = 3 − 3 𝑒−1125(0.002) = 3 − 3 𝑒−2.25 = 3 − 0.492 = 2.17𝑚𝑉

These calculation are verified in the figures (Fig 13.22, Fig 13.23, and Fig 13.24):

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Electric Circuits (EE 110) Lab Manual Handout # 13

Figure 13.22 – Verification for 𝒗𝒐 (𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏) Figure 13.23 - Verification for 𝒗𝒐 (𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏4)

Figure 13.24 - Verification for 𝒗𝒐 (𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐)

Summary:
In this lab, we did an analysis of RL circuits, derived an equation for current through an
inductor, and also calculated the potential difference across a resistor connected in the circuit.
An RL circuit consists of a resistor connected in series with an inductor, as the inductor opposes
the flow of current so it takes some time for an inductor to charges so the values of current
flowing through an inductor varies with time. We also plotted waveforms for the current
flowing through the inductor and for the voltages across a resistor. We calculated the time
constant for the inductor both theoretically and graphically. Using the equation for the voltage
across the resistor, we calculated voltage at various times and verified them graphically.

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