Experiment 4 Lab Manual

American International University- Bangladesh

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
EEE-2102: Electrical Circuit-2 Laboratory

Title: Analysis of RLC parallel circuit and verification of KCL in AC circuits.

Introduction:

An RLC circuit (or LCR circuit or CRL circuit or RCL circuit) is an electrical circuit
consisting of a resistor, an inductor, and a capacitor, connected in series or in parallel. The
RLC part of the name is due to those letters being the usual electrical symbols for resistance,
inductance and capacitance respectively. The Parallel RLC Circuit is the exact opposite to the
series circuit. The analysis of parallel RLC circuits can be a little more mathematically
difficult than for series RLC circuits. This time instead of the current being common to the
circuit components, the applied voltage is now common to all so we need to find the
individual branch currents through each element. The total impedance, Z of a parallel RLC
circuit is calculated using the current of the circuit similar to that for a DC parallel circuit, the
difference this time is that admittance is used instead of impedance. The objectives of this
experiment are-
1) To determine phase relationship between IL and IC in a RLC parallel circuit.
2) Draw the complete vector diagram for a RLC parallel circuit.
3) Verification of KCL in AC circuits.

Theory and Methodology:

In dc circuits, conductance (G) was defined as being equal to 1/R. The total conductance of a
parallel circuit was then found by adding the conductance of each branch. The total resistance
RT is simply1/GT. In ac circuits, we define admittance (Y) as being equal to 1/Z. The unit of
measure for admittance as defined by the SI system is Siemens, which has the symbol S.
Admittance is a measure of how well an ac circuit will admit, or allow, current to flow in the
circuit. The larger its value, the heavier the current flow for the same applied potential. The
total admittance of a circuit can also be found by finding the sum of the parallel admittances.
The total impedance ZT of the circuit is then 1/YT; that is, for the network of Fig.

𝑌𝑇 = 𝑌1 + 𝑌2 + 𝑌3 + … … … … + 𝑌𝑁

Fig. 1

Or, Since Z = 1/Y,

1 1 1 1 1
= + + + ...........+
𝑍𝑇 𝑍1 𝑍2 𝑍3 𝑍𝑁

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For two impedances in parallel,
1 1 1
= +
𝑍𝑇 𝑍1 𝑍2
𝑍1 𝑍2
𝑍𝑇 =
𝑍1 + 𝑍2
For three parallel impedances,
𝑍1 𝑍2 𝑍3
𝑍𝑇 =
𝑍1 𝑍2 + 𝑍2 𝑍3 + 𝑍1 𝑍3
As pointed out in the introduction to this section, conductance is the reciprocal of resistance,
and
1 1
𝑌𝑅 = = = 𝐺∠0°
𝑍𝑅 𝑅∠0°
The reciprocal of reactance (1/X) is called susceptance and is a measure of how susceptible
an element is to the passage of current through it. Susceptance is also measured in Siemens
and is represented by the capital letter B.
For the inductor,
1 1 1
𝑌𝐿 = = °
= ∠ − 90°
𝑍𝐿 𝑋𝐿 ∠90 𝑋𝐿

1
Defining 𝐵𝐿 = (siemens, S)
𝑋𝐿

𝑌𝐿 = 𝐵𝐿 ∠ − 90°
Note that for inductance, an increase in frequency or inductance will result in a decrease in
susceptance or, correspondingly, in admittance.
For the capacitor,
1 1 1
𝑌𝐶 = = °
= ∠90°
𝑍𝐶 𝑋𝐶 ∠ − 90 𝑋𝐶
1
Defining 𝐵𝐶 = (siemens, S)
𝑋𝐶

𝑌𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶 ∠90°
For the capacitor, therefore, an increase in frequency or capacitance will result in an increase
in its susceptibility.
For any configuration (series, parallel, series-parallel, etc.), the angle associated with the total
admittance is the angle by which the source current leads the applied voltage. For inductive
networks, 𝜃𝑇 is negative, whereas for capacitive networks, 𝜃𝑇 is positive.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 2

 Fig. 2
The circuit of fig.2 represents a RLC parallel circuit where the Total Current I will divide into
ILandICin the parallel branches. If we apply KCL, I = IL+ IC.

Pre-Lab Homework:

Study the phase relation of the reactive elements and how to solve the complex impedance
equations. Try to write the related equations and practice some mathematical problems to get
clear idea. Observe the graphs related to parallel RLC circuit. Use NI Multisim to generate the
output of the circuit provided in this lab sheet.

Apparatus:

1) Oscilloscope
2) Function generator
3) Resistor: 100  (3)
4) Inductor: 6.3 mH
5) Capacitor: 1F
6) Connecting wire.
7) Bread board

Precautions:

1) Proceed according to figure, understanding the connections and check initially if all
the other buttons in the inductor and capacitor box are in off position or not.
2) Operate the signal/function generator smoothly and connect the probes perfectly.
3) Calibrate the oscilloscope before connecting the channels across any components to
ensure that there is no problem in the probes of oscilloscope.
4) Connect the components to the bread board smartly to ensure the connections.

Experimental Procedure:

1) Construct the circuit as shown in the fig.1. Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope
across function generator and channel 2 of the oscilloscope across RL.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 3

 2) Set the amplitude of the input signal 10V peak to peak and the frequency at 1 kHz.
Select sinusoidal wave shape.
3) Determine phase relationship between the waves.
4) Measure value of IL.
5) Now connect channel 2 of oscilloscope across RC.
6) Determine phase relationship between the waves.
7) Measure value of IC.
8) Measure total current I opening channel 1 and connecting channel 2 across R
9) Draw the complete vector diagram.
10) Add IL and IC and compare result with practically obtained value of I.
11) Do the same work for setting input frequency 2 kHz and 4 kHz.

Simulation and Measurement:

1) Complete Table 1.
Table 1
f E IL L IC C IL+IC I
1 kHz

2 kHz

4 kHz

2) Compare the simulation results with your experimental data/ wave shapes and
comment on the differences (if any).

Questions for report writing:

1) Show E, IL , IC and I in vector diagram for 1kHz, 2kHz and 4kHz input frequency.
2) Verify KCL.
3) Comment on the role of frequency to L and C.
4) Compare the calculated results and experimental data. Is there any difference(s)
between them? Find the percentage of error (if any).

Discussion and Conclusion:

Interpret the data/findings and determine the extent to which the experiment was successful
in complying with the goal that was initially set. Discuss any mistake you might have made
while conducting the investigation and describe ways the study could have been improved.

Reference:

1. R.M. Kerchner and G.F. Corcoran, “Alternating Current Circuits”, John Wiley & Sons, Third
Ed., New York, 1956.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 4