Electrical network

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A simple electric circuit made up of a voltage source and a resistor. Here, , according to Ohm's law.

An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical

components (e.g. batteries, resistors, inductors, capacitors, switches) or a model of such an
interconnection, consisting of electrical elements (e.g. voltage sources, current
sources, resistances, inductances, capacitances). An electrical circuit is a network consisting of a
closed loop, giving a return path for the current. Linear electrical networks, a special type consisting
only of sources (voltage or current), linear lumped elements (resistors, capacitors, inductors), and
linear distributed elements (transmission lines), have the property that signals are linearly
superimposable. They are thus more easily analyzed, using powerful frequency domain methods
such as Laplace transforms, to determine DC response, AC response, and transient response.
A resistive circuit is a circuit containing only resistors and ideal current and voltage
sources. Analysis of resistive circuits is less complicated than analysis of circuits containing
capacitors and inductors. If the sources are constant (DC) sources, the result is a DC circuit.
A network that contains active electronic components is known as an electronic circuit. Such
networks are generally nonlinear and require more complex design and analysis tools.
Contents
[hide]

1Classification

1.1By passivity

1.2By linearity

2Classification of sources
o

2.1Independent

2.2Dependent

3Electrical laws

4Design methods

5Network simulation software

o

5.1Linearization around operating point

5.2Piecewise-linear approximation

6See also

7References

Classification[edit]
By passivity[edit]
An active network is a network that contains an active source - either a voltage source or current
source.
A passive network is a network that does not contain an active source.

By linearity[edit]
A network is linear if its signals obey the principle of superposition; otherwise it is non-linear.

Classification of sources[edit]
Sources can be classified as independent sources and dependent sources

Independent[edit]
Ideal Independent Source maintains same voltage or current regardless of the other elements
present in the circuit. Its value is either constant (DC) or sinusoidal (AC). The strength of voltage or
current is not changed by any variation in connected network.

Dependent[edit]
Dependent Sources depend upon a particular element of the circuit for delivering the power or
voltage or current depending upon the type of source it is.

Electrical laws[edit]
A number of electrical laws apply to all electrical networks. These include:

Kirchhoff's current law: The sum of all currents entering a node is equal to the sum of all
currents leaving the node.

Kirchhoff's voltage law: The directed sum of the electrical potential differences around a loop
must be zero.

Ohm's law: The voltage across a resistor is equal to the product of the resistance and the
current flowing through it.

Norton's theorem: Any network of voltage or current sources and resistors is electrically
equivalent to an ideal current source in parallel with a single resistor.

Thvenin's theorem: Any network of voltage or current sources and resistors is electrically
equivalent to a single voltage source in series with a single resistor.

superposition theorem: In a linear network with several independent sources, the response
in a particular branch when all the sources are acting simultaneously is equal to the linear sum
of individual responses calculated by taking one independent source at a time.

Other more complex laws may be needed if the network contains nonlinear or reactive components.
Non-linear self-regenerative heterodyning systems can be approximated. Applying these laws results
in a set of simultaneous equations that can be solved either algebraically or numerically.

Design methods[edit]
Linear network analysis
Elements

Components

Series and parallel circuits

Impedance transforms

Generator theorems

Network theorems

Network analysis methods

Two-port parameters

view
talk
edit

See also: Network analysis (electrical circuits)

To design any electrical circuit, either analog or digital, electrical engineers need to be able to predict
the voltages and currents at all places within the circuit. Simple linear circuits can be analyzed by
hand using complex number theory. In more complex cases the circuit may be analyzed with
specialized computer programs or estimation techniques such as the piecewise-linear model.

Circuit simulation software, such as HSPICE (an analog circuit simulator),[1] and languages such
as VHDL-AMS and verilog-AMSallow engineers to design circuits without the time, cost and risk of
error involved in building circuit prototypes.

Network simulation software[edit]

More complex circuits can be analyzed numerically with software such as SPICE or GNUCAP, or
symbolically using software such as SapWin.

Linearization around operating point[edit]

When faced with a new circuit, the software first tries to find a steady state solution, that is, one
where all nodes conform to Kirchhoff's current law and the voltages across and through each
element of the circuit conform to the voltage/current equations governing that element.
Once the steady state solution is found, the operating points of each element in the circuit are
known. For a small signal analysis, every non-linear element can be linearized around its operation
point to obtain the small-signal estimate of the voltages and currents. This is an application of Ohm's
Law. The resulting linear circuit matrix can be solved with Gaussian elimination.

Piecewise-linear approximation[edit]
Software such as the PLECS interface to Simulink uses piecewise-linear approximation of the
equations governing the elements of a circuit. The circuit is treated as a completely linear network
of ideal diodes. Every time a diode switches from on to off or vice versa, the configuration of the
linear network changes. Adding more detail to the approximation of equations increases the
accuracy of the simulation, but also increases its running time.

See also[edit]

Bridge circuit

Digital circuit

Circuit diagram

Circuit theory

Diode bridge

Quiescent current

Ground (electricity)

Hydraulic analogy

Impedance

Load

Mathematical methods in electronics

Memristor

Netlist

Network analyzer (electrical)

Network analyzer (AC power)

Open-circuit voltage

LC circuit

RC circuit

RL circuit

RLC circuit

Lumped element model and distributed element model

Potential divider

Prototype filter

Schematic

Series and parallel circuits

Short circuit

Superposition theorem

Topology (electronics)

Continuity test

Voltage drop

Mesh analysis

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ "HSPICE" (PDF). HSpice. Stanford University, Electrical Engineering Department.
1999.
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