50

Experiment 8

Power in AC Circuits

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the power dissipated by the resistive component and the
power associated with reactive components as well as the power
associated with the equivalent impedance of an AC circuits.
To investigate the power factors on non-linear loads and adjust its
factor near unity

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The instantaneous power dissipated by a circuit component at any time t is

given by the product of the voltage across that component and the current through it
at that time, i.e.

In an ac circuit: both the voltage and current are continually varying and the
power therefore also varies continually.What is usually of interest is the average
power, which is given by the expression
P = VI cost) (watts)

where P = average power

V = rms value of the voltage
I = rms value of the current
cos 0 = phase shift betweenV and I

The powerfactor cos 0 is

• Unity for a purely resistive circuit
• Zero for a purely inductive or purely capacitive circuit
• Between zero and unityfor a RL (inductive)or RC (capacitive) circuit

The product VI is called apparent power, expressed jn volt-amperes (VA). It

represents the total rate at which energy is supplied to the circuit

The product VI sino is called reactive power (wattless power), expressed in

VARS. It represents the rate at which energy is stored (positive reactive power) or
released (negative reactive power).

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However, only the real power P, expressed in watts (W) is taken as energy
from the supply. It represents the rate at which energy is converted into useful form.

A wattmeter is an instrument for measuring the average power. It has a pair of

voltage terminals and a pair of currentterminals. Usually each pair of terminals is
associated with a range switch, like that of a multimeter,so that a particular range of
a voltage and current can be chosen for a measurement.In use, the wattmeter
produces a deflecting force on the indicating pointer (or some equivalent effect),
which is proportionalat every instant to the productVI, i.e., to the instantaneous
power. The indicator however cannot instantly follow the fluctuations in VI; its inertia
causes it to respond only to the average force, corresponding to the average value
of VI, i.e., the average power.

PREFERRED EQUIPMENT:
FeedBack Trainer Kit
Function generator
Multimeter (V.O.M.)
A.C. Miliammeter 0 —100 mA
Wattmeter

INmAL SETTINGS:
Connect the power supply unit to the main supply line. DO NOT switch on
yet.

PROCEDURE:
l. POWER MEASUREMENT
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 8.1.
2. Set the sine wave function generatorto 250 Hz, with constant outputamplitudeof
4 VRMSas measured on the voltmeter.
3. In Table 8.1, followingthe results table, record the readings of total current,the
voltage across the resistor, the voltage across the inductorand the total power
absorbed by the circuit.

What did you observe about the magnitude of the current flowing to the
resistor and inductor? What is this parameterin the system?

What about the magnitude of the voltage across the whole impedance of
the circuit? What is this parameter in the system?

4. Transfer the potential leads of the wattmeteracross the resistor (nodes B and C)
and record the reading of the power absorbed by the resistor.

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5. Transfer the potential leads of the wattmeteracross the inductor (nodes A and
B) and record the reading of the power absorbed by the inductor.
6. From the given values and measured values in Table 8.1, calculate the required
parameters in Table 8.2
7. On another sheet of paper, with the correct phase relationship (based on Table
8.2), draw two sine waveforms on the same axes (one for voltage and one for
current). From this construct the power curve on the same axes.

Based on Table 8.1 and the power curve, what is the power absorbed by
the inductor? What is the reason for this power (wattmeterreading)
absorbed by the inductor?

Considering an ideal inductor, what did you observe about the power it
absorbed? What do you think is the reason for this power (wattmeter
reading) absorbed by the inductor?

Based on the data in Table 8.1, what can you observe about the total
power, power absorbed by the resistor and power absorbed by the
inductor? What relationship can do generalize regarding power?

Based on the data in Table 8.1, at what power factor does the circuit
operates? From this, which waveformdo you think is leading?

8. Switch off the power supply unit.

ll. POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 8.1.
2. Set the sine wave function generator to 250Hz, with constant output amplitude of
4 VRMSas measured on the voltmeter.
3. On Table 8.3, following the results table, record the readings of total current, the
voltage across the resistor, the voltage across the inductor and the total power
absorbed by the circuit.
4. Notice the two sinusoidal waveformsseen on the oscilloscope, especially their
phase difference.
5. Notice also the wattmeter reading.
6. Now connect a capacitor in parallel with the inductor (see Figure 8.2).
As you connect the capacitor, what happen to the phase differenceof
the two sinusoidal waveforms?

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As you connect the capacitor, what happens to the wattmeterreading?

What do you think is the reason for this power (wattmeterreading)?

7. From the given values and measured values of Table 8.3, calculate the required
parameters on Table 8.4

Based on Tables 8.3 and 8.4 (measured and calculated values), what can
you say about the values of each parameter compared from the
previous values on Tables 8.1 and 8.2 (measured and calculated values)
upon the addition of the capacitor in the circuit?

In Figure 8.2, what do you think would happen to each parameterin

Tables 8.1 and 8.2 (measured and calculated values) if an inductor was
connected instead of a capacitor?

8. Switch off the power supply unit.

Ill. MAXIMUMPOWER TRANSFER TO A LOAD IMPEDANCE

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 8.3. (See note)
2. Let ZTH be the internal impedance or Thevenin's impedance of the given source.
And ZL is the load impedance to be varied so that it will absorb maximum power.
3. Set the sine wave function generator to 250Hz, with constant output amplitude of
4 VRMSas measured on the voltmeter.
4. In Table 8.5, following the results table, record the readings of total current and
the total power absorbed by the circuit at different values of the inductor.
5. In Table 8.5, following the results table, calculate the required parameters.
Based on Table 8.5, at what value of the inductor does the load
impedance absorb maximum power? What did you observe about the
magnitude of the inductive reactance and the capacitive reactance at
this condition?

What will happen to the magnitude of the total reactance at this

condition?

At maximum power, how can you relate the load impedance to the
internal impedance or Thevenin's impedance of given source?

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Based on Figure 8.3, at maximum power, what is the power factor of the
circuit? Why you think it inhibit this value?

6. Switch off the power supply unit.

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WIRING DIAGRAM:
w
Current Coil
o
.t
y , oscilloscope probe 1
(voltage monitor)
Sine Wave
Function Potential Coil (V)
Generator y oscilloscope probe 2
(current monitor)
o common ground
c

Figure 8.1

w
Current Coil (l),

y oscilloscopeprobef
(voltage monitor)
Sine Wave
Funäion Potential Coil (V) o
Generator y oscilloscope probe 2
(current monitor)
common ground
c

Figure 8.2

w
Current Coil (l):

Sine Wave Potential Coil (V)

Function
Generator

Figure 8.3

Preferred Settings for Figure 8.1, Figure 8.2 and Figure 8.3:
Sine Wave Function Generator = 4 VRMSat 250Hz
Resistor (RI) = IOOQ
Resistor (R2) = 1200
Resistor (R3) = IOOQ
Inductor(LO = 100mH
Inductor (1-2)= 60 —360mH
Capacitor(CO = IOOnF
Capacitor (C2) = 2.2pF

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PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET'.

Experiment 8 - Power in AC Circuits

NAME: DATE:
COURSE/SECTION: GROUP #
Table 8.1:

POWER MEASUREMENT
Parameter Given Parameter Measured
Values Values
Frequency Total Voltage (VT)
VRM S
Resistance (R) Resistor Voltage (VR)

Inductance (L) Inductor Voltage (VL)

VRMS
Reactance (X) Total Current (IT)
IX 2nfL (Q) mARMS
Total Power (PT)

Impedance (Z) Resistor Power (PR)

w
Inductor Power (PL)
(Q) (W)

Ins&uctoris Signatur

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Table 8.2:

POWER MEASUREMENT
Parameter Formula Calculated Values
ImpedanceAngIe (9z)
(0) = tan
Power Factor (pf) pf = COSOz

Reactive Factor (rf) r/ = sin Oz

Real Power (P) P — VTIT COS Oz

IR2R

Reactive Power (Q) Q= sin e:

(VAR)

IXI
Apparent Power (S) S VTIT
(VA)

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Table 8.3:

POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

Parameter Given Parameter Measured
Values Values
Frequency Total Voltage (VT)
V RMS
Resistance (R) Resistor Voltage (VR)
VRMS
Inductance (L) Inductor Voltage (VL)
VRMS
Capacitance (C) Total Current (IT)
mARMs
Inductive Reactance (XL) Total Power (PT)
X / = 2nfL(Q) w
Capacitive Reactance (Xc)
1
(Q)
27TfC
Total Reactance (X)

Impedance (Z)

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Table 8.4:

POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

Parameter Formula Calculated Values
ImpedanceAngle (Oz)
(0) = tan
Power Factor (pf) pf = COS
Oz

Reactive Factor (rf) rf = sin

Real Power (P) P = VTIT COSOz

Reactive Power (Q) Q = sinoz

(VAR)

Apparent Power (S)

s-

ISI= p 2 +Q 2

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Table 8.5:

MAXIMUMPOWER TRANSFER TO A LOAD IMPEDANCE

Inductance
Parameter
60 120 180 240 300 360
Total Voltage (VT)
Total Current (IT)
mARMs
Total Power (PT)

Resistance (RI)
Resistance (R2)

—iiiiii
Total Resistance

Inductive Reactance (XL)

Total Reactance (X)

Power Factor (pf)

Real Power (P)

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