CONCEPT OF RESONANCE
Introduction
An RLC circuit (or LCR 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 circuit forms a harmonic oscillator
for current and will resonate at resonant frequency.
Concept of Resonance in Series Circuit
The resonance frequency is defined as the frequency at which the impedance of the
circuit is at a minimum. Equivalently, it can be defined as the frequency at which
the impedance is purely real (that is, purely resistive). This occurs because the
impedance (reactance) of the inductor and capacitor at resonance are equal but of
opposite sign and cancel out. Thus in a R-L-C series circuit, when the value of the
inductance is equal to the capacitance i.e. X L = XC, the circuit is said to be in
resonance. For a circuit the value of XL and XC is given as follows:
XL = 2pfL
Where
f = frequency
L = Inductance Units Henry
where
f = frequency
C = Capacitance unit Farad
At resonant frequency (fr) XL = XC
i.e.,
Resonance curve
Resonance curve is plotted between current and frequency. For R-L-C series circuit
current approaches maximum value at the resonant frequency (f r) and declines
abruptly on either side at that point. It is so due to following reason (Table 7.1):
Table 7.1 Variation in current with frequency
Condition Circuit
Impedance
(Z)
Frequency < XC >XL Z>R Rapid
Resonating decrease in
frequency current
Frequency > XL>XC Z>R Rapid
Resonating decrease in
frequency current
Frequency = XL=XC Z≈R Rapid
Resonating Z is increase in
frequency minimum current
Fig. 7.1 Resonance curve
The resonance curve has a shape of dome because magnitude of circuit current
decreases rapidly as the frequency varies from the resonant frequency.
Sharpness of resonance: The narrowness of the frequency band around the
resonance at which the response of an electric circuit exceeds an arbitrary fraction
of its maximum response, often 70.7%.
Selectivity: The selectivity of the circuit is a measure of its ability to reject any
frequencies either side of these points. A more selective circuit will have a
narrower bandwidth whereas a less selective circuit will have a wider bandwidth.
The selectivity of a series resonance circuit can be controlled by adjusting the
value of the resistance only, keeping all the other components the same.
Q-factor
Q-factor gives the degree of current change with frequency above and below
resonance. A R-L-C circuit is used to discriminate between frequencies. In other
words Q-factor or quality factor is the ability to discriminate different frequencies.
Resonant circuits are used to respond selectively to signals of a given frequency
while discriminating against signals of different frequencies. If the response of the
circuit is more narrowly peaked around the chosen frequency, we say that the
circuit has higher "selectivity". A "quality factor" Q, as described below, is a
measure of that selectivity, and we speak of a circuit having a "high Q" if it is more
narrowly selective.
An example of the application of resonant circuits is the selection of AM radio
stations by the radio receiver. The selectivity of the tuning must be high enough to
discriminate
Fig. 7.2 Q-factor
Q-factor depends entirely upon design of coil (i.e. R-L part of the R-L-C circuit)
because resistance arises in this rather than in a capacitor.
Concept of Resonance in Parallel Circuit
"Parallel resonant circuit" comprises of a capacitor (C) connected in parallel with
an inductive coil having a resistance R and inductance L which in combination is
connected across an a.c. supply.
Consider a parallel resonant circuit with following elements:
a. L = Coil Inductance
b. R = Coil resistance. (usually very small and is neglected compared to other
impedances)
c. C = Capacitance (assumed to be loss less)
d. Variable frequency a.c. source
Here a coil (L) and capacitor (C) are connected in parallel with an AC power
supply. Let R be the internal resistance of the coil. When X L equals XC, the reactive
branch currents are equal and opposite. Hence they cancel out each other to give
minimum current in the main line. Since total current is minimum, in this state the
total impedance is maximum. Resonant frequency given by:
If R is negligible then,
Note that any reactive branch current is not minimum at resonance, but each is
given separately by dividing source voltage (V) by reactance (Z). Hence I=V/Z, as
per Ohm's law.
� At fr,
line current is minimum. Total impedance is maximum. In this state a
circuit is called a rejector circuit.
� Below fr, circuit is inductive.
� Above fr,circuit is capacitive.
Like series resonant circuit, the resonance in a parallel resonant circuit will occur,
when the power factor of the entire circuit becomes unity.
Comparison of Series and Parallel Resonant Circuits
Table 7.2 Comparison of series and parallel resonant circuits
Series Parallel Circuit
Circuit
1. Connection R-L-C R-L and C
series connected in
connection parallel
across a.c. across a.c.
supply supply.
2. Circuit Maximum Minimum
current at
resonance
3. Impedance at Minimum Maximum
resonance (Z = R) (Z=L/CR)
4. Magnification Voltage Current
5. Power factor Unity Unity
at resonance
Application of R-L-C Circuit
1. They are used in many different types of oscillator circuit.
2. Variable tuned circuits: A very frequent use of these circuits is in the tuning
circuits of analogue radios. Adjustable tuning is commonly achieved with a
parallel plate variable capacitor which allows the value of C to be changed
and tune to stations on different frequencies.
3. Signal Filters: Can be used to filter a signal by blocking certain frequencies
and passing others.
4. Voltage multiplier
5. Pulse discharge circuits
Applications of Resonance Effect
1. Most common application is tuning. For example, when we tune a radio to a
particular station, the LC circuits are set at resonance for that particular
carrier frequency.
2. A series resonant circuit provides voltage magnification.
3. A parallel resonant circuit provides current magnification.
4. A parallel resonant circuit can be used as load impedance in output circuits
of RF amplifiers. Due to high impedance, the gain of amplifier
is maximum at resonant frequency.
5. Both parallel and series resonant circuits are used in induction heating.
Numericals
1. Calculate the resonant frequency for a R-L-C series circuit having L =
25 mH and C = 30�F.
= 184 Hz
2. Calculate the resonant frequency for a R-L-C series circuit having L =
30 mH and C = 50 �F. Also calculate band width of the circuit if Q-factor is
50.
= 130 Hz
��������� Q = fr/BW
BW = fr/Q = 130/50 = 2.6 Hz
