RLC Circuits

Chapter
7.1 - Series RLC Circuit
7.'2- Parallel RLC Circuit

7 7.3 - Correction of the Power Factor

Proposed Exercises

In this chapter, we will analyze the behavior of RLC circuits.

series and parallel, allowing the study of resonant circuits and making the correction
of the power factor of inductive circuits.

7.1 -Series RLC Circuit

ocircuitRLCseries formed by a resistor, an inductor and a

capacitors connected in series, as shown in figure 7.1, whose current was
considered, arbitrarily, as having a null initial phase.
i,v

R j v

v _
L j v

C j You

(a) Circuit Phasor Diagram

Figure7.1 -HLC Series Circuit

RLC Circuits 185

 InasereisRLCcricuti,hetotalappeildvotlagesithevectorsum!
the voltages across the resistor, capacitor, and inductor, that is:

v= vR+ vL+ You

Regarding the phasor diagram, it is known that:

• The voltage across the resistor is in phase with the current;

• The voltage across the inductor is ahead by 90° relative to the

current

• The voltage across the capacitor is delayed by 90° relative to the

current.

Therefore, the voltages v and Vc are 180° out of phase with each other.
that the vector sum is the difference between their magnitudes, with phase equal to
of the greater modulus tension.

For example, considering that VL>You have to:

Figure 7.2 shows the stress diagram obtained from the

phasor diagram of figure 7.1(b) and the respective impedance diagram,
considering that VL>VC
vI,

{"a":"Stress Diagram","b":"Impedance Diagram"}

Figure7.2 - Voltages and Impedance in the Series RLC Circuit

186
 From figure 7.2(a), one can obtain the magnitude of the total applied stress.
by the generator:

Like VL> The phase difference of the voltage of the generator in relation to
current ispositivebut less than 90°, due to the influence of the resistor.
This means that the impedance phase is alsopositive,characterizing a
circuitinductiveIn which the inductive reactance predominates over the capacitive.

In the series RLC circuit, the equivalent complex impedance

circuit can be calculated by:

I Z= R+j(XLXél you

omodulus of the equivalent circuit impedanceok

( )2
2 "'1
you Z = -R + ro.L - ro.C .

Phase of the equivalent circuit impedancevale

( ro.L-- 1 )
H (XL-Xc) gtcra=l jc ro.C .
4 >= arctan R or
R

o The power factor of the circuit can be obtained from the diagram of
impedance of figure 7.2(b), and it is:

IFP= cos4>= ~ I
From everything that has been seen so far, some conclusions can be drawn.
general

RLC Circuits 187

 h
e=
> cirisicnductive
ttu i (<I>>0°);

T
e
ht iu
(e
cvs<I>
riict<0°);
ica
p

het tcuircisriesistive(I)=0°.

This last condition (XL= Xc) is called resonance, subject

this will be further explored next.

Resonant Circuit

A resonant circuit is one that presents minimal opposition.

possible for the passage of electric current at a certain frequencyo ,
called resonance frequency of the circuit.

These will signify the higher and lower frequencies that will be found.
greater opposition from the resonant circuit.
Figure 7.3 shows a series resonant circuit.
an alternating voltage is applied at a certain frequency.

v
(f) - L

Figure 7.3 · Series Resonant Circuit

When the frequency of the voltage is such thatXL= Xc'the reactance

inductive is canceled by capacitive reactance,alreadythat are out of phase by 180°.
This means that the circuit behaves as if it were a resistance.
pure.

The resonance frequency fo'in which this phenomenon occurs,

can be determined as follows:

188
 Like roo=[Link] order to, it is necessary to:

~ =>resonant frequency of the circuit

~
The graphs from figure 7.4 (2 = f(roll) and i = f(roll) show o
behavior of the series resonant circuit as a function of frequency.

z Circuit CrrOJilO
<:a_ Induüvo
• •

o •• o

(a) Impedance Graph Current Graph

Figure 7.4 - Behavior of the Series Resonant Circuit

From this figure, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• At the resonance frequency, the circuit is purely

the resistance to the current is minimal, resulting in
maximum current number 1M ;

• Below the resonance frequency, the impedance is

capacitive (Xc > XL) and the current is advanced in relation to
to the applied tension;

RLC circuits 189

 • Above the resonance frequency, the impedance is inductive
(~ >The current is lagging behind the voltage.
applied.

Largura de Faixa (LF) e Fator de Qualidade(Q)

Define bandwidth (BW) or frequency band, as

being:

Where: f) upper cutoff frequency

fei= )lower cutoff frequency

At the cutoff frequency, the current value is approximately

70.7% of the resonance current 1M, as shown in the graph of figure 7.5.

0,707.1.

1
I.
LF

Figure 7.5 - Width of the Band of the Resonant Circuit

J2,
This value 70.7% corresponds to 1.M / or a drop of 3dB
at the maximum current.

190
 The width of the strip depends on the quality of the coil. An ideal coil
with zero ohmic resistance, however, in practice, the wire of the coil has
resistance.
oThe quality factor Q of a coil is defined as
being

Where:XThe= [Link].L ~ inductive reactance at the frequency of

resonance

RB ~ ohmic resistance of the coil

Quality factorQThe circuit is given by:

IQ=XLoI
Rr

Where: Rr ~total ohmic resistance of the circuit

The circuit's bandwidth is related to the factor of

quality through expression:

Therefore, the higher the quality of the coil, the lower it is

bandwidth or sharper is the curve i= f(ro), that is, better it is the
resonant circuit, as it becomes more selective, as shown by the
figure 7.6.

RLC Circuits 191

 Q,
Q,>Q,

Lf,
Figure 7.6 - Quality of the Resonant Circuit

Examples:

1) In a series RLC circuit, there is: R= 100n, L = lmH e

C= O,lllf. If the generator voltage is 10 LQ:Please, we ask:
1000

lmH
10I.Q:v -

O,ll'f

a) Resonant frequency of the circuit

f= 1 1
o 2n../L.C - - - = = = = =-15,915kHz
2nJlO-3.1O-7

192
 the
b) Current supplied by the generator at the resonance frequency

In resonance, the circuit is purely resistive, therefore:

Z = R = 1000.

I=V=~ = 100mA
Z 100
c) Phase angle between generator voltage and current in
resonance
In resonance, the circuit is purely resistive and, therefore, the
phase angle is zero (I = 0).

d)Current and phase shift at f = 20kHz

XL = 21t.f.L = 21t.20.103.1O-3 = 125.70

1 1
Xc = fC- 3 7 - 79.60
21t. 21t.20.l0 .10-

Z = R+ jül.L - j_1_ = 100+ j125.7 - j79.6=>

temp.C

Z = 100+ j46,l 0=110 124.7° O

Therefore: i=~= 10 ~ =909 1-24.7 mA

From 110 to 124.7° '

AsXL> XC
' this frequency the circuit is inductive
at
fJ > 20kHz
e) Current and phase shift if f = 10kHz

XL = 21t.f.L = [Link].103.1O-3 = 62.80

CircuitsRlC 193
 1 1
Xc= =21t.10.103.107 159.2Q
21t.f.C

Z = R + joo.L - j_l_ = 100 + j62.8 - j159.2 =>

00.C

Z=100-j96,4Q=138,9 1-43.9° Q

Therefore: '=~= 10 ~ =7231439° mA

1 Z 138.41-43,9° ' ,

As Xc>Xl' at this frequency the circuit is capacitive

(10kHz)<fo)'
2)In a series RLC circuit, we have: VR=6V; Vc=20V; VL=12V
e i =10 10°mA. Requests are:

a)Complex impedance:

R= VR= 6 600Q
I 10.10-3

194
x=L VL=1012
.10- 3' = 12'·r.
lU. :.
XL= j 12kn
,

X = Vc = 20 - 21st. X 2 1.r.
C 10.10-3 lU . :. C=- j lU .

Z=R+jw.L-j_l_=O,6+jl,2-i2=O,6-jO,8 kn=l1-53°kn
w.C

b) Voltage applied in the circuit

v=Z.i=l I-53°. 1O~=10 1-53° V

c) Phasor diagram
i ,v

VclI2V)

,,
53 degreesI I(JOrnA)
,
:
----- v(IOV))'

Vcl20V)

RLC Circuits 195

 3) Given the resonant circuit below, the following is requested:

-,I
í
II I L~1001'H
I
i I
v (_
I II
I R,,=8U
I
,- J I

T
C~5.6nF

a) Resonance frequency

f= 1 The given text does not contain any translatable content.212.68kHz

o 2rr..JL.C 2rr.~100.1O-6.5,6.10-9

b) Coil quality factor

XLo= 2rr..fo.L= 21t.212,68.103.100.1O-6= 133.63n

QL=XLo=133,63
167,
RB 8

c) Circuit quality factor

Q= XLo= 133,63 = 742

RT 10+8 '

d)Track width of the circuit

LF= fo= 212.68.103= 2866kH

Q 7,42 ' z

196
 I
I
I

---------------~-----
I

f1kHz)
o 198,35 212,68 227.01

ILF~28.66 kHz J

e) Value of R for the bandwidth to be 10% of the

resonant frequency

LF= fo = ) 21,268.103= 212,68.103 = )

Q=10
Q Q
Q=XThe = 133.63
= ) 10 = ) R = 5363Q
R+RB R+8 '

______ 7o_2_-_C_iro_u_it_O_R_L_C_P_ar_a_le_lo ,1

oThe parallel RLC circuit is formed by a resistor, an inductor

It's a capacitor connected in parallel, as shown in figure 7.7, whose voltage was
considered, arbitrarily, as having zero initial phase.
~

v_ R L c

a) Circuit

RLC Circuits 197

 i ,v

;c
~

;R

;L

(b) Phasor Diagram

Figure 7.7 - Parallel RLC Circuit

In a parallel RLC circuit, the total current supplied by the generator

it is the vector sum of the currents in the resistor, capacitor, and inductor, that is:

i=iR+iL+ic

Regarding the phasor diagram, it is known that:

• The current in the resistor is in phase with the voltage;

• The current in the inductor lags by 90° with respect to the

tension

• The current in the capacitor is ahead by 90°.

to the tension.

Therefore, the currents iLand they are out of phase by 180° with each other, being
that their vector sum is the difference between their magnitudes, with phase equal to
of the largest magnitude current.

For example, considering that Ic> IL , it is necessary to:

i c+iL= (Ic -'L)1900

Figure 7.8 shows the current diagram obtained from the

phasor diagram of figure 7. 7(b) and the respective impedance diagram,
considering that Ic> IL.

198
 i ,v

Current Diagram Impedance diagram

Figura7.8 - Correntes e lmpedância no Circuito RLC Paralelo

From figure 7.S(a), the total current module can be obtained.

provided by the generator:

Like Ic> Il ,the lag <I> of the generator current in relation to

the tension is positive, but less than 90°, due to the influence of the resistor. This
it means that the impedance phase is negative, characterizing a circuit
capacitive, where capacitive reactance predominates over inductive.
In the parallel RLC circuit, the equivalent complex impedance of the
circuit can be calculated by:

1 1 1 1
-=-+--+--
Z R jXl -jX c

Developing this expression, the impedance is obtained

complex

From= ro.R.L
you
ro.L+ jR(ro2.L.C-l)

RLC Circuits 199

 oThe module of the equivalent circuit impedance is:

Z ro.R.L
~(ro.L)2+ R2(ro2.L.C_l)2
.
The equivalent impedance phase of the circuit is:

~you
'" ct R.(ro2.L.C-l)
'I'=-arg
ro.L

opower factor of the circuit can be obtained from the diagram of

impedance of figure 7. 8(b), and is:

(;:Zl
FP = cosljl== ) ~
. ? L..:!J
In this case, the conclusions that can be drawn are as follows:

• CaseXL > Xc = ) the circuit is capacitive (~< 0°);

• CaseXL<Xc = ) the circuit is inductive> 0°);

• CaseXL= Xc = ) the circuit is resistive (ljl= 0°).

This last condition also corresponds to resonated

circuit.
For the parallel RLC circuit, the expressions also hold for the
resonant frequency(woor 10), that is:

you fp= [Link].C

1

But in this case, since the devices are in parallel, the graphs
of impedance and current (2=I(w) and i =f(w)) are as shown in the figure
7.9.

200
 z Circuit Circuit
Inductive Captive

R
• ~

o '"
(a) Impedance graph

V
I -
m R
m

o "'" '"
(b) Current Graph

Figure7.9 - Behavior of the Parallel Resonant Circuit

From this figure, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• At the resonance frequency IDo, the circuit is purely

resistive and the opposition to the current is maximum, resulting in
in a minimum current 1m ;

• Below the resonance frequency, the impedance is inductive.

(Xc> Xl);

RLC Circuits 201

 • Above the resonance frequency, the impedance is
capacitive > Xc).

Examples:
1) Given the circuit below, the following is requested:

R ==Xe
v~201JEV - Ikn 500Q

a) Complex current in each component and total current

. v 20lQ:.40 1900 40mA

c= Xc = 500 1_900 = =J

. v 20lQ:...
L= XL= 200 1900 =100
1-90° = -j100 mA

i=iR+ ic+iL= 20 + j40 - j100 = 20 - j60 = 63.25 1 - 71.6° mA

b) Complex impedance

z-~- 20lQ: =3162171600

i 63,25.1 0-3 1-71.6° ' ,

202
c) Phasor diagram

i,v

icl40mA)

i,(ZOmA)

v(ZOV)

i [Link]'Y

(IOümA)
the

2) Given the following circuit, the following is requested:

v=lO~
60Hz
R L c

SA~ 4A~ IOA~

RLC Circuits 203

 complex impedance

XL ='!..-
I =11O
4 = 27 ,..:.
5" XL = j27 ,5 ••
L

Xc = '!..- = 110=lln :. Xc = -jlln

lc 10

Module:

z= [Link]·Xc _ 22.27,5.11 = 14!l

J(XL.Xcl2+R2.(X L - Xcl2 J(27,[Link])2+222.(27,5 _11)2

Phase:

=>jl-arctan R.(XL - Xc) _ -arctan 22.(27.5-11) _ -500

XL.XC27,5.11

b) Complex current provided by the generator

i = ~ =110 ~= 5[Q:= 5 A
R R 22 ~

i=~= 110 ~ =41-900 =-j4A

L XL 27.5 1900

i= ~= 110-10 1900 =j10A

c Xc 11 1-900

i=iR+iLic = 5 - j4 + j10 = 5 + j6 = 7.8 1500 A

204
 c) Phasor diagram
i,v

ic(lOA)

i(7,BA)

,.(SAI

i,(4A)

Potê'lQ:i~
7.3 - Correction of the Factor of

An electrical installation is, in most cases, composed of loads

inductive (electric motors), therefore, an analysis of the factor is necessary
of the installation power.

The decrease in the power factor reduces the active (real) power.
increasing the reactive power, which implies an increase in current and,
pcrtanto, em perdas.

RLC Circuits 205

Example:
It is a circuit that consumes an apparent power of 12kVA.
when the supply is 220V rms. The consumed current is:

1= PAp12.103 -54 55A

V 220 ' rms

If the circuit is purely resistive, all the power consumed is equal to

active power (real), with the PF equal to I, that is:

P = [Link]$ = 220.54,55.1 = 12kW

However, if the circuit is inductive with PF=0.5, under these conditions, the
active power value:

P = 220.54,55.0,5 = 6kW
If the FP increases to 0.85, with the same apparent power, the
active power will be:
P = 220.54,55.0,85 = 10,2kW
How active power is responsible for the transformation of
electric energy into useful energy, we conclude that the increase in the PF implies
increasing useful power, without increasing current.

There are several ways to increase the FP of an electrical installation.

but here only the correction of the power factor will be analyzed with the use of
of capacitors.
I've already seen that an inductor delays the current in relation to the voltage. How
the capacitor leads the current in relation to the voltage, the proper connection of a
Capacitor in the circuit can compensate for the current delay, reducing the angle.
of the lag and, consequently, increasing the power factor.
For economic and practical reasons, it is enough to maintain theFPabove 0.85,
what is the minimum value set by electricity concessionaires,
below which users pay a fine.
The calculation of the correction capacitor is done as follows:
Considering a circuit with impedance Z whose phase angle
it is $1, as shown in figure 7.10.

206
 I ,v

v _
z

)
(a)Circuit (b)PhasorDiagram
Figure 7.10 - Circuit without Power Factor Correction and its Phasor Diagram

othe goal is to reduce this angle to </l2 .

The placement of the capacitor in parallel with the load reduces the angle.
The phase of </lIparacjl2 what does an increase in the circuit's FP mean, as
show figure 7.11.
i,v

Hi

v _
*i, *icc
o
v
Z

)
(a) Circuit. (b)PhasorialDiagram!
[Link] with Power Factor Correction and its Phasor Diagram!

RLC Circuits 207

 When the correction is made (with the placement of the capacitor), the power
the circuit's activity does not change, only the apparent power. Thus, the
The placement of the capacitor does not change the value of iR' since it is related to
resistive component of the load, which is responsible for active power
(P=[Link]).

In figure 7.11(b), we identify the triangles OAC and OBC and obtain:
- -
AC = [Link]<!>I e
-BC=[Link]<l>2
-

From the same diagram we obtain:

AB = 00 = AC - BC = Oe. tg<l>-1 De. tg<l>2 = De. (tg<l>-1tg<l>2)

- p - - p
Como oe=IR = V eAB = 00 = Ic, it turns out that: [c = V .(tg<l>-1tg<l>2)'

V
On the other hand, Ic= - [Link].C
Xc
By equating the two expressions we delete:

This is, therefore, the value of the capacitor needed to correct the
power factor of the circuit of <1>p1ara <1>.2

Examples:
1) A motor consumes a power of 5kW at [Link]
Calculate the value of the capacitor that increases the power factor.
for 0.9 (f=GOHz).

MP~5kW
V=220V~- FP=0.6
f=60Hz

208
 cos<Pt=0.6 => (Pt=53°=> tg(Pt=1.33

COS<P2=0.9 => <P2=26°=> tan<P2=0.49

C=--2 P .(tg<Pl- tg<P2)= 5.103 2·(1.33 - 0.49)=230~

OV
J. 377.220

An inductive load dissipates power real of 1kW

consuming a current of 10Arms/ f=60Hz with . a
phase angle of 60°. Calculate:

a) Value of the capacitor that corrects theFPfor0.85

Situation before the correction:

i,v

v ZL
j=60Hz .- P=lkW

P=[Link]<p => 1000=[Link] 60° => V =200Vrms

COS<P2=0.85 => <P2=31.8° => tg<P2=0.62

C=--2 P .(tg<Pl- tg<P2)= 1000 2·(1.73 - 0.62)=74~

OV
J. 377.200
-V

RLC Circuits 209

 the
b)Total current supplied by the generator after the power factor correction

After the correction:

v,i

V-2OOV_
j=6OHl

In the phasor diagram, we observe that the vector sum of i1 and ic

results in i2.
It is: ii = } reactive component of the current i1.

lí =11·sin600 = 10.0,866 = 8.66Arms

We have: iR= active
} component of the current in the load.

IR = II·cos60° = 10.0,5 = 5ARMS

The active current in the load must be the same before and after the correction.

The current supplied by the generator after correction becomes:

IR 5
12= -- = 085 = 5.88Amps
cosG > 2 '
Therefore, the current supplied by the generator decreases from 10A to
5.88A, without reducing the real power at the load.
c) Apparent power after the correction of PF

PAp = V.I2 = 200.5,88 = 1.176 kVA

do FP, the power apparent
Before the correction was:
PAp = V.I1 = 200.10 = 2kVA.

210
 Proposed Exercsies

Series RLC Circuit

7.1 - In a series RLC circuit, the phase angle between voltage
of the generator and current is60°sendo: f =60Hz, Z =200n
e Xc=[Link]:
R

v _

a) Whether the circuit is inductive or capacitive.

b)ValueofR,L,andC;

c) Phasor diagram.
7.2 - Given the following circuit, the following is required:

R=300Q

v5=0~
V
~
f=200Hz
L=500mH

a) Complex impedance;
b)Resonance frequency;
c) Complex current.

RLC Circuits 211

 7.3The tuning circuit of an AM radio has a coil of
L=1OO~H. What are the limits of a variable capacitor for
that the radio tunes from 530kHz to 1600kHz?

Parallel RLC Circuit

7.4 -Given the following circuit, the following is requested:

v=llOIlEV~
-60Hz
200 L c

Xe=-j 200

a) Complex current in each component and in the generator;

b) Complex impedance;

c) Power factor.

7.5 -Given the following circuit, the following is requested:

v=lO~V~ E-1 lOkll llJJ<H =:=10nF

a)Resonance frequency;
b) Current supplied by the generator at resonance.

212
Correction of Power Factor
7.6 - An electrical installation has the following characteristics:
10kVA/220V rml60Hz ecosljl=0.5 (inductive). Determine:

a) Total current consumed;

b)Active and reactive power;

c) Value of the capacitor that increases theFPfor 0.85;

d) Value of the current consumed after correction;

e)Apparent and reactive power after correction.

7.7 - Given the circuit below, calculate:

20n

RvI0.500n)

a) Value ofRvfor oFP to be 0.85 and the currents iR' iL

and go in this condition;

b) FPwhenRvThere is a need for correction of

power factor (PF>0.85)? If so, what should be the value of the
capacitor?

c)SeRv=1000, is there a need to correct the FP? If there is,

What should be the value of the capacitor?

RLC Circuits 213

 7.8 - An electrical installation powered by a generator
220V rm/60Hz has a power of 20kVA. Calculate the
real power consumed by the installation for the following
valores de FP:

a) FP=l b)FP=0,6 c) FP = 0.2

7.9 - The characteristics of a single-phase motor are: V = rms ,

120V
I=10 Arms' cos«jl= 0.8. Determine the following characteristics
of your wrapping:

a) Ohmic resistance;

b) Inductive reactance;

c) Impedance.

214