You are on page 1of 22

RL Circuit Transient Analysis

RC & RLC Transient Analysis


2.5 VOLTAGE CURRENT RELATIONS

I2.5.1. RESISTOR

Conductor is used to carry current from one point to another. For the conductor, at any
instant time t, the current i(t) passing through it and the voltage v(t) across it satisfies
the relation defined by the curve in the v-i plane as shown in Fig. 2.12(a).

i (t)

Slope = G

i (t) R
1
v (t) R=
G
+ v(t) -

(a) (b)

Fig. 2.12 Characteristics and representation of resistor.


Then i (t) α v(t)

= G v(t) (2.4)

The proportionality constant G is called as CONDUCTANCE of the conductor.


RESISTANCE, R is the opposing property of the conductor for the flow of current. Thus
R and G are the reciprocal of each other.

1
i(t) = v(t)
R

i.e. v(t) = R i(t) (2.5)

The statement corresponding to the above equation is called as OHM’S LAW. Thus
Ohm’s law can be stated as :

The current through the resistor and the voltage across it are related as

v(t) = R i(t) where R is called the resistance.


Consider a resistor with current and voltage markings as shown in Fig. 2.13(a). A
positive current will cause voltage drop from A to B. Then v A > v B and hence v which is
equal to vA - vB must be positive for any positive current. Thus the terminal relation
becomes

v = Ri (2.6)

i R i R
A B A B
+ v - - v +

(a) (b)
Fig. 2.13 Resistor with current and voltage markings.

Now consider a resistor with polarity markings as shown in Fig. 2.13 (b). A positive
current will result in voltage drop from A to B. Then v A > v B and hence v which is equal
to vB – vA must be negative for any positive current. Thus the terminal relation becomes

v =-Ri (2.7)
The resistance of a conductor is directly proportional to its length, inversely proportional
to its area of cross section. It also depends on the material of the conductor. Thus


R=ρ (2.8)
A

where ρ is called the specific resistance of the material by which the conductor is made
of. The unit of the resistance is Ohm and is represented as Ω. The unit of the specific
resistance ρ is Ohm-m. Resistance of a conductor depends on the temperature also. In
dc circuits, the power consumed by the resistor is given by

P=VI (2.9)

where V is the voltage across the resistor and I is the current through the resistor.

When the voltage is in volt and the current is in ampere, power will be in watt. Alternate
expressions for power consumed by the resistors are given below.

P = R I x I = I2 R (2.10)

V V2
P=Vx = (2.11)
R R
Two special conditions of resistors are of particular interest. They are OPEN CIRCUIT
and SHORT CIRCUIT.

In open circuit condition, current i(t) through the resistor will be zero irrespective of
whatever be the voltage v(t) across it. To satisfy this, as seen from equation i(t) = G v(t),
the value of G must be zero and hence the value of R must be infinity. Thus, in open
circuit condition

i(t) = 0, G = 0 and R =  . (2.12)

Note that in the open citcuit condition, there will be open circuit voltage across the
resistor.

In short circuit condition, voltage v(t) across the resistor will be zero irrespective of the
current i(t) flowing through it. To satisfy this, as seen from v(t) = R i(t), value of R
must be zero and hence the value of G must be infinity. Thus, in short circuit condition

v(t) = 0, R = 0 and G =  (2.13)

Note that when the resistor is short circuited, entire current is diverted through the short-
circuted path.
2.5.2 CAPACITOR

Any two conducting surfaces separated by an insulating medium form a capacitor. A


two terminal element will be called a CAPACITOR, if at any instant time t, the charge in
it q(t) and the voltage across it v(t) satisfy a relation defined by the curve in the v-q
plane as shown in Fig. 2.14(a). In the circuit diagram, a capacitor is shown in Fig.
2.14(b). CAPACITANCE is the property of the capacitor.

q (t)

Slope = C C
i
v (t)
+ v -

(a) (b)

Fig. 2.14 Characteristics and representation of capacitor.


The capacitance is the rate of change of charge with respect to voltage. The relation
between the charge q(t) and the voltage v(t) can be expressed as

q(t) = C v(t) (2.14)

where C is a constant which is equal to the slope of the characteristic. This constant is
called as the CAPACITANCE. The unit of capacitance is Farad. It is to be noted that
capacitance is charge per unit voltage.

The equation relating the terminal voltage and the element current can now be
obtained. Knowing that the rate of change of charge (with respect to time) is the current,
differentiating both sides of Eq. (2.14), we get

dq(t) dv(t)
 i(t)  C
dt dt

dv(t)
Therefore i(t)  C (2.15)
dt
dv(t)
Therefore i(t)  C (2.15)
dt

dv(t) 1
From the above equation  i(t)
dt C

Integrating both sides of the above equation yield


t
1
C 0
v(t)  v(0)  i(t) dt (2.16)

where v(0) is the initial voltage across the capacitor.

The above equation can be written as


t
v(t)  v(0)  S  i(t) dt (2.17)
0

where S = 1 / C which is called the ELASTANCE.

A capacitor is completely specified as a circuit element only if the capacitance C and


the initial voltage v(0) are given.
2.5.3 INDUCTOR

A wire of certain length, when twisted into a coil becomes a basic inductor. A two
terminal element will be called an INDUCTOR, if at any instant of time, the flux linkage
in it Ψ(t) and the current passing though it i(t) satisfy a relation defined by the curve in
i - Ψ plane as shown in Fig. 2.15(a). In the circuit diagram, an inductor is shown as in
Fig. 2.15(b). INDUCTANCE is the property of the inductor.

Ψ (t)

Slope = L L
i
i (t)
+ v -
(a) (b)

Fig. 2.15 Characteristics and representation of inductor.


Inductance is the rate of change of flux linkage with respect to the current.The relation
between the flux linkage Ψ(t) and the current i(t) can be expressed as

Ψ(t) = L i(t) (2.18)

where L is a constant which is equal to the slope of the characteristic. This constant is
called the INDUCTANCE. The unit of inductance is Henry. It is to be noted that
inductance is flux linkage per unit current.

The equation relating the terminal voltage and the element current can now be
obtained. Knowing that the rate of change of flux linkage is the voltage, differentiating
both sides of Eq. (2.18) we get

dψ(t) di(t)
 v(t)  L
dt dt

di(t)
Therefore v(t)  L (2.19)
dt
di(t) 1
From the above equation  v(t)
dt L

Integrating both sides of the above equation yield

t
1
i(t)  i(0)   v(t) dt (2.20)
L 0

Here i(0) is the initial current through the inductor.

The above equation can be written as

t
i(t)  i(0)  Γ  v(t) dt (2.21)
0

where Γ = 1 / L which is called the RECIPROCAL INDUCTANCE.

A inductor is completely specified as a circuit element only if the inductance L and the
initial current i(0) are given.
7.1 INTRODUCTION

So far steady state analysis of electric circuits was discussed. Electric circuits will be
subjected to sudden changes which may be in the form of opening and closing of
switches or sudden changes in sources etc. Whenever such a change occurs, the
circuit which was in a particular steady state condition will go to another steady state
condition. Transient analysis is the analysis of the circuits during the time it changes
from one steady state condition to another steady state condition.

Transient analysis will reveal how the currents and voltages are changing during the
transient period. To get such time responses, the mathematical models should
necessarily be a set of differential equations. Setting up the mathematical models for
transient analysis and obtaining the solutions are dealt with in this chapter.

A quick review on various test signals is presented first. Transient response of simple
circuits using classical method of solving differential equations is then discussed.
Laplace Transform is a very useful tool for solving differential equations. After
introducing the Laplace Transform, its application in getting the transient analysis is
also discussed.
7.3 CERTAIN COMMON ASPECTS OF RC AND RL CIRCUITS

While doing transient analysis on simple RC and RL circuits, we need to make use of
the following two facts.

1. The current in an inductor as well as the voltage across a capacitor cannot


have discontinuity.

2. With dc excitation, at steady state, capacitor will act as an open circuit and
inductor will act as a short circuit.

These two aspects can be explained as follows.

Voltage across an inductor is vL = L (di / dt). If the current through the inductor has
discontinuity, then at the time when the discontinuity occurs, di / dt becomes infinity
resulting the voltage vL to become infinity. However, in physical system, we exclude the
possibility of infinite voltage. Then, we state that in an inductor, the current cannot have
discontinuity. Suppose, if the circuit condition is changed at time t = 0, the inductor
current must be continuous at time t = 0 and hence iL(0+) = iL(0-) (7.14)

where time 0+ refers the time just after t = 0 and time 0- refers the time just before t = 0.
Similarly, the current through a capacitor is given by i C = C (dv / dt). If the voltage
across the capacitor has discontinuity, this will result in infinite current through the
capacitance. In physical system, we exclude the possibility of infinite current. Then, we
state that the voltage across the capacitor cannot have discontinuity. Suppose, if the
circuit condition is changed at time t = 0, then

vC(0+) = vC(0-) (7.15)

With dc excitation, at steady state condition, all the element currents and voltages are
of dc in nature. Therefore, both di / dt and dv / dt will be zero. Since i C = C (dv / dt) and
vL = L (di / dt), with dc excitation, at steady state condition, the current through the
capacitor as well as the voltage across the inductor will be zero. In other words, with dc
excitation, at steady state condition, the capacitor will act as an open circuit and the
inductor will act as a short circuit.
7.4 TRANSIENT IN RC CIRCUIT

While studying the transient analysis of RC and RL circuits, we shall encounter with two
types of circuits namely, source free circuit and driven circuit.

Source free circuit

A circuit that does not contain any source is called a source free circuit. Consider the
circuit shown in Fig. 7.7 (a). Let us assume that the circuit was in steady state condition
with the switch is in position S1 for a long time. Now, the capacitor is charged to
voltage E and will act as open circuit.

S1 R R 1
vC
S2
E
C iC
C

0
(a) (b)
Fig. 7.7 Source free RC circuit.

Suddenly, at time t = 0, the switch is moved to position S 2. The voltage across the
capacitor and the current through the capacitor are designated as vC and iC
respectively. The voltage across the capacitor will be continuous. Hence

vC(0+) = vC(0-) = E (7.16)


The circuit for time t > 0 is shown in Fig. 7.7 (b). We are interested in finding the voltage
across the capacitor as a function of time. Later, if required, current through the
dv
capacitor can be calculated from iC = C . Voltage at node 1 is the capacitor voltage
dt
vC. The node equation for the node 1 is
R 1
vC dv C vC
C 0 (7.17)
R dt
iC
C
dv C v
i.e.  C 0 (7.18)
dt RC
Fig. 7.7 (b) 0

We have to solve this first order differential equation (DE) with the initial condition

vC(0+)= E (7.19)

We notice that DE in Eq. (7.18) is a homogeneous equation and hence will have only
complementary solution. Let us try vC(t) = K est (7.20)

as a possible solution of Eq. (7.18).


Taking the initial capacitor voltage as vC(0) and the final capacitor voltage as vC(  )
1
 t
R2 C
capacitor voltage is can be derived as vC(t) = vC(  ) + [vC(0) - vC(  )] e (7.47)

Summary of formulae useful for transient analysis on RC circuits

1. Time constant τ = RC

2. When the capacitor is discharging from the initial voltage of E


vC(t)
1
 t E
RC
vC(t) = E e

0 t
3. When the capacitor is charged from zero initial voltage to final voltage of E
vC(t)
1
 t
vC(t) = E ( 1 - e RC
) E

t
4. When the capacitor voltage changes from vC(0) to v C ( )
vC(t)
1
 t
RC vC(∞)
vC(t) = vC(  ) + [vC(0) - vC(  )] e

dv C (t) t
5. Capacitor current iC(t) = C
dt vC(0)
7.5 TRANSIENT IN RL CIRCUIT

Now we shall now consider RL circuit for the transient analysis. As stated earlier,

1. The current in an inductor cannot have discontinuity.

2. With dc excitation, at steady state, inductor will act as a short circuit.

Now also we shall end up with first order DE whose solution will be exponential in
nature.

Source free circuit

A circuit that does not contain any source is called a source free circuit. Consider the
circuit shown in Fig. 7.35 (a). Let us assume that the circuit was in steady state
condition with the switch is in position S1 for a long time. Now the inductor acts as short
E
circuit and it carries a current of .
R
S1 R R 1
vL
S2
E L
L
iL iL

0
(a) (b)
Fig. 7.35 Source free RL circuit.
Suddenly, at time t = 0, the switch is moved to position S 2. The current through the
inductor and the voltage across the inductor are designated as iL and vL respectively.
The current through the inductor will be continuous. Hence
R 1
vL

L
iL
E
iL(0+) = iL(0-) = 0 (7.49)
R

The circuit for time t > 0 is shown in Fig.above. We are interested in finding the current
through the inductor as a function of time. Later, if required, voltage across the inductor
di
can be calculated from vL = L . The mesh equation for the circuit is
dt

diL diL R
R iL  L 0 (7.50) i.e.  iL  0 (7.51)
dt dt L

We need to solve the above equation with the initial condition

E
iL(0+) = (7.52)
R
The structure of the equation 7.51 is the same as Eq. 7.18. In this case, the time
L E
constant, τ is . The inductor current exponentially decays from the initial value of
R R
to the final value of zero. Thus the solution of equation 7.51 yields
R
E  Lt
iL(t) = e (7.53)
R

The plot of inductor current is shown in Fig. 7.36 (a).


iL(t) vL(t)
E
R t

0 -E
t
(a) (b)
Fig. 7.36 Plot of iL(t) and vL(t).

It can be seen that the dimension of L / R is time. Dimensionally

L Flux linkage amp. Flux linkage


   sec.
R amp. volt Flux linkage / sec

R R
di E R  t  t
The voltage across the inductor is: vL(t) = L =L (- )e L =-E e L (7.54)
dt R L

The plot of the voltage across the inductor is shown in Fig. 7.36 (b).
Taking the initial inductor current as iL(0) and the final inductor current as iL(  ), inductor
R2
 t
current can be obtained as iL(t) = iL(  ) + [iL(0) - iL(  )] e L
(7.63)

Summary of formulae useful for transient analysis on RL circuits

1. Time constant τ =L/R

2. When the inductor current is decaying from the initial value of iL(0) to zero
R
iL(t)
 t
iL(t) = iL(0) e L iL(0)

0 t
3. When the inductor current is exponentially increasing from zero to iL(  )
iL(t)
R
 t
iL(t) = iL(  ) ( 1 - e L
) iL(∞)

t
4. When the inductor current changes from iL(0) to iL ( )

R
iL(t)
 t
iL(t) = iL(  ) + [iL(0) - iL(  )] e L iL(∞)

diL (t) t
5. Inductor voltage vL(t) = L
dt iL(0)

You might also like