TECHNO INTERNATIONAL NEWTOWN

NEWTOWN,KOLKATA-156

EXPERIMENT NO.: 5

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT

Determination of resonance frequency of a series RLC circuit

DATE:

BASIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY MANUAL (ES-EE191)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
EXPERIMENT NO. : 5

Title: DETERMINATION OF RESONANCE FREQUENCY OF A SERIES RLC

CIRCUIT

5.1 OBJECTIVE:

To find out the resonance frequency of a series RLC circuit.

5.2 THEORY:

Up to this point, we have already analyzed the behavior of a series RLC circuit whose source
voltage is a fixed frequency steady state sinusoidal supply.

But what would happen to the characteristics of the circuit if a supply voltage of fixed
amplitude but of different frequencies was applied to the circuit is our area of concern. Also
what would the circuits “frequency response” behavior be upon the two reactive components
due to this varying frequency need to be analyzed.

The inductive and capacitive reactances XL and XC are the functions of frequency. If the
supply frequency changes, there will be corresponding changes in their values. In a series
RLC circuit, there becomes a frequency point where the inductive reactance of the inductor
becomes equal in value to the capacitive reactance of the capacitor. In other words, XL = XC.
The point (the value of frequency) at which this occurs is called the Resonant Frequency
point, (ƒr) of the circuit, and as we are analyzing a series RLC circuit, this resonance
frequency produces a Series Resonance.

Series Resonance circuits are one of the most important circuits used in electrical and
electronic circuits. They can be found in various forms such as in AC mains filters, noise
filters and also in radio and television tuning circuits producing a very selective tuning circuit
for the receiving of the different frequency channels. Consider the simple series RLC circuit
below:

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Fig.1. RLC series resonance circuit

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  Inductive reactance: XL= 2πfL = ωL
 Capacitive reactance: XC= 1/(2πfC)= 1/(ωC)
 When XL > XC , the circuit is Inductive
 When XC > XL , the circuit is capacitive
 Total circuit reactance = XT = XL - XC or XC – XL
 Total circuit impedance = Z = √ R2 + X 2T = R + j X

From the above equation for inductive reactance, if either the Frequency or the Inductance is
increased the overall inductive reactance value of the inductor would also increase. As the
frequency approaches infinity the inductor’s reactance would also increase towards infinity with
the circuit element acting like an open circuit.

However, as the frequency approaches zero or DC, the inductors reactance would decrease to
zero, causing the opposite effect acting like a short circuit. This means then that inductive
reactance is “Proportional” to frequency and is small at low frequencies and high at higher
frequencies and this demonstrated in the following curve:

XL ∝ f

The same is also true for the capacitive reactance formula above but in reverse. If either the
Frequency or the Capacitance is increased the overall capacitive reactance would decrease. As
the frequency approaches infinity the capacitors reactance would reduce to practically zero
causing the circuit element to act like a perfect conductor of 0Ω or short circuit.

But as the frequency approaches zero or DC level, the capacitors reactance would rapidly
increase up to infinity causing it to act like a very large resistance, becoming more like an open
circuit condition. This means that capacitive reactance is “Inversely proportional” to frequency
for any given value of capacitance and this is shown below:

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 XC ∝ 1/f

We can see that the values of these resistances depend upon the frequency of the supply. At a
higher frequency, XL is high and at a low frequency, XC is high. Then there must be a frequency point
where the value of XL is the same as the value of XC. If we place the curve for inductive reactance on
top of the curve for capacitive reactance so that both curves are on the same axes, the point of
intersection will give us the series resonance frequency point, ( ƒr or ωr ) as shown below:

Where: ƒr is in Hertz, L is in Henries and C is in Farads.

Electrical resonance occurs in an AC circuit when the two reactances which are opposite and
equal cancel each other out as XL = XC and the point on the graph at which this happens is where

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the two reactance curves cross each other. In a series resonant circuit, the resonant frequency, ƒr
point can be calculated as follows:

XL = XC

Or, 2πfL = 1/(2πfC)

Or, f2 = 1/ (2πL* 2πC) = 1/ (4π2LC)

Or, f = √ 1/4 π 2 LC

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Therefore, fr = √ 1/4 π 2 LC = Hz
2 π √ LC

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Or, ωr = rads
√ LC
We can see that at resonance, the two reactances cancel each other out thereby making a series
LC combination act as a short circuit with the only opposition to current flow in a series
resonance circuit being the resistance, R. In complex form, the resonant frequency is the
frequency at which the total impedance of a series RLC circuit becomes purely “real”, that is no
imaginary impedance’s exist. This is because at resonance they are cancelled out. So the total
impedance of the series circuit at resonance becomes just the value of the resistance and
therefore: Z = R at resonance.

Impedance (Z) V/S frequency (f) curve

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We already know about series RLC circuits that the voltage across a series combination is the
phasor sum of VR, VL and VC. Then if at resonance, the two reactances are equal and cancelling,
the two voltages representing VL and VC must also be opposite and equal in value thereby
cancelling each other out because with pure components the phasor voltages are drawn at +90 o
and -90o respectively.

Then in a series resonance circuit as VL = -VC, the resulting reactive voltages are zero and all the
supply voltage is dropped across the resistor. Therefore, VR = Vsupply and it is for this reason that
series resonance circuits are known as voltage resonance circuits, (as opposed to parallel
resonance circuits which are current resonance circuits).

Since the current flowing through a series resonance circuit is the product of voltage divided by
impedance and at resonance, the impedance, Z is at its minimum value, (=R). Therefore, the
circuit current at this frequency will be at its maximum value of V/R as shown below:

Current (I) V/S frequency (f) curve

The frequency response curve of a series resonance circuit shows that the magnitude of the
current is a function of frequency and plotting this onto a graph shows us that the response starts
at near to zero, reaches maximum value at the resonance frequency when IMAX = IR and then
drops again to nearly zero as ƒ becomes infinite. The result of this is that the magnitudes of the
voltages across the inductor, L and the capacitor, C can become many times larger than the
supply voltage, even at resonance but as they are equal and at opposition they cancel each other
out.

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As a series resonance circuit is also known as an Acceptor Circuit because at resonance, the
impedance of the circuit is at its minimum and that’s why at resonance, the circuit easily accepts
the current.

At resonance, the phase angle is zero then the power factor must therefore be unity.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:

Type Maker’s
Name of apparatus Quantity Range
Name
Resistor

Inductor

Capacitor
Variable frequency
Power Supply

Ammeter
Voltmeter

5.3 PROCEDURE:

1. The R, L and C elements along with variable frequency power supply are connected with
series along with an ammeter to measure the current flowing ( all are available within the
kit).
2. Voltmeter is to be connected across the supply voltage terminals (available within the
kit).
3. The frequency of the supply voltage needs to be changed and corresponding current,
voltage and frequency readings have to be taken and tabulated (frequency meter is in buit
within the kit and is already internally connected with the supply voltage).

5.4 OBSERVATION TABLE

Frequency of the Ammeter Reading Voltmeter Reading Impedance

supply voltage

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5.5 PRECAUTIONS:

5.6 RESULTS:

1.8.1 CALCULATIONS (if necessary)

1.8.2 GRAPH: Draw a graph in between the frequency and the circuit current.

5.7 CONCLUSION:

QUESTIONS

1. What is series resonance known as acceptor circuit?

2. What are the conditions of series resonance?
3. What is the expression of resonant frequency?
4. What is the Quality factor of the circuit at resonance?