TEE1103 - Lecture 9Y2016 - AC Introduction
TEE1103 - Lecture 9Y2016 - AC Introduction
TEE1103 - Lecture 9Y2016 - AC Introduction
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
CIRCUIT ANALYSIS
Introduction to AC
LECTURE 9Y2016
By
LOVEMORE GUNDA
1 – Introduction
AC means Alternating Current and has become an acronym for
all alternating electrical signals
Alternating refers to a voltage or current whose magnitude
alternates between two prescribed levels in a set time sequence
Examples of Alternating Signals
1 – Introduction
The sinusoidal waveform is the most commonly used signal in
AC analysis
Its shape is not affected by resistors, capacitors or inductors
Alternating refers to a voltage or current whose magnitude
alternates between two prescribed levels in a set time sequence
Advantages of AC over DC
• AC voltages can be efficiently stepped up/down using
transformer
• AC motors are cheaper and simpler in construction than DC
motors
• Switchgear for AC system is simpler than DC system
1 – Introduction
1.1. Terms Describing AC signals
1 – Introduction
1.1. Terms Describing AC signals
i. Waveform: Path traced by a quantity plotted as a function of some variable like time,
position, temperature, angular displacement e.t.c
ii. Instantaneous value (𝑣𝑡 ): Magnitude of a signal at any instant of time, denoted by
lower case letters
iii. Amplitude (A): It is the maximum value attained by an alternating quantity. Also
called as maximum or peak value
iv. Peak to peak value (𝑉𝑝𝑝 ): Is the total displacement between the crest and the trough
of a signal
v. Period (T): The time interval between successive repetitions of a periodic waveform.
It is also the time between two points on a waveform at which the signal has the same
magnitude and direction
It can be defined as the time taken by a signal to complete one cycle
Unit is the Second
vi. Cycle: A portion of waveform contained in one period of time
vii. Frequency (f): Number of cycles completed in 1 second. Unit is the Hertz
1
𝑓=𝑇
viii. Angular Frequency (ω): The number of radians covered in one second (i.e the
angle covered by the rotating coil). The unit of angular frequency is rad/sec.
2𝜋
𝜔= = 2𝜋𝑓
𝑇
1 – Introduction
1.2. Representation of AC Signals
i. Waveform: A trace representing the AC signal as a function of
time or angular displacement
RMS value (Effective Value): The equivalent DC value that gives the same
average power as the AC signal
Instantaneous Power is given by 𝑖 2 𝑅
If 𝐼𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃), then Power =𝐼𝑚 2 𝑅 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃)
Average power is determined by Integrating the instantaneous power over a
period and dividing by the period
𝐼𝑚 2 𝑅
𝑃𝑎𝑣 = ,
2
For a DC source driving the same resistance, 𝑃 = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 2 𝑅
𝐼 𝐼 𝑉
∴ 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 𝑚 . Hence 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝑚 and it follows that 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝑚
2 2 2
4 – AC Power
In DC, 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
In AC therefore, instantaneous power is 𝑃 = 𝑣𝑡 . 𝑖𝑡
Let 𝑣𝑡 =𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼 and 𝑖𝑡 =𝐼𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝛽)
It can be shown that average power,
1
𝑃𝑎𝑣 = 𝑉𝑚 . 𝐼𝑚 cos 𝛼 − 𝛽
2
1
𝑃𝑎𝑣 = 𝑉 .𝐼 cos 𝜃 where Ɵ is the phase angle
2 𝑚 𝑚
between voltage and current.
𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜃) where V and I are RMS values
The value 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜃) is the power factor. It is leading if
Currents leads voltage, and Lagging if current lags
voltage
5 – Response of Basic Components to AC
5.1. Resistors: Opposition to the flow of AC current through a
component is termed Impedance, 𝑍
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