Abstract:
In this experiment, we identified the impedance of RLC circuit and determined the distribution
of the applied voltage V and current I in the R,L and C elements. We also determined the phase
angle between the voltage and the current for each element in the RLC circuit.
Introduction:
In RLC circuit, the most fundamental elements like resistor, inductor and capacitor are connected
across a voltage supply. All these elements are linear and passive in nature; i.e. they consume
energy rather than producing it and these elements have a linear relationship between voltage
and current. There are number of ways of connecting these elements across voltage supply, but
the most common method is to connect these elements either in series or in parallel. The RLC
circuit exhibits the property of resonance in same way as LC circuit exhibits, but in this circuit the
oscillation dies out quickly as compared to LC circuit due to the presence of resistor in the circuit.
Series RLC Circuit
When a resistor, inductor and capacitor are connected in series with the voltage supply, the
circuit so formed is called series RLC circuit.
Since all these components are connected in series, the current in each element remains the
same,
Let VR be the voltage across resistor, R.
VL be the voltage across inductor, L.
VC be the voltage across capacitor, C.
XL be the inductive reactance.
XC be the capacitive reactance.
The total voltage in RLC circuit is not equal to algebraic sum of voltages across the resistor, the
inductor and the capacitor; but it is a vector sum because, in case of resistor the voltage is in-
phase with the current, for inductor the voltage leads the current by 90o and for capacitor, the
voltage lags behind the current by 90 o. So, voltages in each component are not in phase with
each other; so they cannot be added arithmetically. The figure below shows the phasor diagram
of series RLC circuit. For drawing the phasor diagram for RLC series circuit, the current is taken as
reference because, in series circuit the current in each element remains the same and the
corresponding voltage vectors for each component are drawn in reference to common current
vector.
The Impedace for a Series RLC Circuit
The impedance Z of a series RLC circuit is defined as opposition to the flow of current due circuit
resistance R, inductive reactance, XL and capacitive reactance, XC. If the inductive reactance is
greater than the capacitive reactance i.e XL > XC, then the RLC circuit has lagging phase angle and
if the capacitive reactance is greater than the inductive reactance i.e X C > XL then, the RLC circuit
have leading phase angle and if both inductive and capacitive are same i.e X L = XC then circuit will
behave as purely resistive circuit.
We know that
Where,
Substituting the values
Parallel RLC Circuit
In parallel RLC Circuit the resistor, inductor and capacitor are connected in parallel across a
voltage supply. The parallel RLC circuit is exactly opposite to the series RLC circuit. The applied
voltage remains the same across all components and the supply current gets divided. The total
current drawn from the supply is not equal to mathematical sum of the current flowing in the
individual component, but it is equal to its vector sum of all the currents, as the current flowing
in resistor, inductor and capacitor are not in the same phase with each other; so they cannot be
added arithmetically.
Phasor diagram of parallel RLC circuit, IR is the current flowing in the resistor, R in amps.
IC is the current flowing in the capacitor, C in amps.
IL is the current flowing in the inductor, L in amps.
Is is the supply current in amps.
In the parallel RLC circuit, all the components are connected in parallel; so the voltage across
each element is same. Therefore, for drawing phasor diagram, take voltage as reference vector
and all the other currents i.e IR, IC, IL are drawn relative to this voltage vector. The current
through each element can be found using Kirchhoff’s Current Law, which states that the sum of
currents entering a junction or node is equal to the sum of current leaving that node.
As shown above in the equation of impedance, Z of a parallel RLC circuit; each element has
reciprocal of impedance (1 / Z) i.e. admittance, Y. So in parallel RLC circuit, it is convenient to use
admittance instead of impedance.
Objectives:
1- To investigate the impedance of RLC circuit.
2- To determine the distribution of the applied voltage V and current I in the R,L and C
elements.
3- To determine the phase angle between the voltage and the current for each element in
the RLC circuit.
Experimental Procedure:
Part1 (Series Circuit):
1. We connected the series circuit as shown in the figure.
2. We Set the function generator to Vrms=3V (Sinusoidal) and frequency=1 kHz.
3. We Measured the values of VAB, VBC, VCD, Itot.
4. We found the voltage of each component in the circuit, the total current passes through the
circuit and the phase angle (calculated and measured).
5. We put the results in a table.
C VL (AB) VC (AB) VR (CD) Itot mA V tot Cal Ø cal Ø
measured
0.1 µF 1.435 2.9 1.999 1.96 2.478 -36.359 -36.92
0.22 µF 10736 1.586 2.428 2.35 2.432 3.5 0
1 µF 10594 0.301 2.222 2.2 2.5708 30.19 33.84
Calculations:
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡(0.1𝜇𝐹) = 2.478 𝑣
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡(0.22𝜇𝐹) = 2.432 𝑣
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡(1𝜇𝐹) = 2.5708 𝑣
Part2 (parallel circuits):
1. We connected the circuit as shown in the figure.
2. We set the function generator to Vrms=3V (sinusoidal), f=1KHz.
3. We used the DMM to measure I, IR, IC, IL and calculated the total current and phase
angle ø.
4. We put the results in a table.
C I (mA) IR (mA) IC (mA) IL (mA) I tot cal Ø cal
(mA)
0.1µF 4.44 2.94 1.96 4.13 3.65 -37.056
0.22µF 3.88 2.77 4.06 4.01 2.77 1.03
1µF 15.88 2.81 18.99 3.99 15.259 79.43
Q: Using the related calculations, construct the vector diagrams.
Conclusion:
We learned about the impedance of the RLC circuit, determined the voltage and current
distributions in R,L and C, and the phase angle between the voltage and current for RLC circuit
elements theoretically and by experiment in both parallel and series connections, and learned to
construct victor diagrams for current and voltage.
