MDA INSTITUTE OF POLYTECHNIC,

KOLPA
LATUR
(Approved by A.I.C.T.E. New Delhi Govt. of Maharashtra D.T.E. Mumbai
&Affiliated to M.S.B.T.E. Mumbai)

Single Phase A.C Series Circuit

Prepared by:-
Kureshi A. A.

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SYLLABUS
 1.1 Generation of alternating voltage, Phasor representation of sinusoidal
quantities.
 1.2 R, L, C circuit elements it's voltage and current response.
 1.3 R-L, R-C, R-L-C series A.C. circuits-vector diagram, active, reactive,
apparent power, power triangle and power factor.(Simple Numerical).
 1.4 Resonance in R-L-C series circuit-Graphical Representation, Resonance
curve, Quality (Q) Factor. (Simple Numerical)

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INTRODUCTION
FUNDAMENTA
L QUANTITIES

CHARGE (q) CURENT (I) VOLTAGE (V)

UNIT UNIT UNIT

Culomb (C) Ampere (A) Volt (V)

I=d(q)/d(t) V=dw/dq

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 CIRCUIT
ELEMENT

RESISTOR CONDUCTOR CAPACITOR INDUCTOR

(Resistance) (Conductance) (Capacitance) (Inductance)
R G C L

UNIT UNIT UNIT UNIT

Ohm Ω Siemens / Mho Farad Henry

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 GENERATION OF ALTERNATING
VOLTAGE

e=Blvsinθ
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 An electric current produced by means of electrical machine is known as
generator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
When conductor cuts the magnetic flux, emf induced in it. (Faraday’s Law of
electromagnetic induction). Thus, for generation of emf relative motion between
magnetic field and conductor is required.
Here single turn rectangular elementary coil (AB) is made up of conducting
material. The coil is so placed that it can be rotated about its own axis with constant
speed in a uniform magnetic field provided by permanent magnet.
Assume that the coil (AB) rotates in anticlockwise direction and cuts magnetic
flux. According Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, emf is induced and
magnitude of generated emf depends upon position of armature. The nature of emf
is alternating as shown by the waveform.

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Latur – Nanded Highway, Kolpa, Latur - 413 512
 DEFINITIONS
1. Waveform:- The graph showing variation in the magnitude & direction of an
alternating quantity with respect to time is called waveform of quantity .
2. Instantaneous Value:- The value of an alternating quantity at a particular instant is
called instantaneous value .
3. Cycle:- A complete set of positive & negative values of an alternating quantity is
called a cycle.
4. Time Period:- The time taken by an alternating quantity to complete one cycle is
called time period.
5. Frequency:- Number of cycle completed by an alternating quantity in one second is
called frequency.
6. Maximum / Peak Value/ Amplitude:- The maximum or peak value attained by an
alternating quantity during a cycle is called the Maximum / Peak Value/ Amplitude
of the quantity.

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7. R.M.S. Value:- Root mean square value is define as he square root of the mean value
square of the alternating qantity over one cycle.
7. Vrms = 0.707 Vm
8. Irms = 0.707 Im
8. Average Value:- It is define as the arithmetical average or mean value of all the value of
an alternating quantity over one cycle.
7. Vavg = 0.637 Vm
8. Iavg = 0.637 Im
9. From factor:- It is define as the ratio of RMS value to the average value of an
alternating quantity.
Kf = RMS value /AVG value = 1.11 For pure sine wave
10. Peak factor:- It is define as the ratio of peak value to the RMS value of an alternating
quantity.
Kp = Peak value/RMS value = 1.141 For pure sine wave

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Phasor representation of sinusoidal
quantities.

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 When number of waveforms are drawn in the same figure, the complexity of diagram
increases and it becomes very difficult to extract the information from the waveforms.
Therefore, to extract the same information, simplified alternate approach is preferred, called
“Phasor representation of Sinusoidal quantity”.
A sinusoidal quantity is represented by a rotating vector or rotating phasor “A” whose length
is equal to the amplitude of the quantity “Am”, as shown above. The points on the waveform are
represented by the positions of the phasor during rotation drawn from the same reference point.
The phasor making an angle of “ωt” with respect to positive x-axis reference, represents the
instantaneous value of the quantity at an angle of “ωt” from its zero value, as shown above.
In fact, the vertical component of the phasor represents the magnitude of the quantity at that
particular instant. From the above diagram, it is clear that the vertical component of the phasor is
“Am sin(ωt)” which is the instantaneous value of the quantity at instant “ωt”.
The speed of rotation of the phasor is equal to ω rad/sec where ω = 2πf.
One rotation of the phasor corresponds to one cycle of the alternating waveform as shown in
figure.

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Phase of an Alternating Quantity

Phase Difference :- it is define as angular displacement between two alternating

quantity.

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Leading phase
difference
A quantity which attains
its zero or positive
maximum value before
the compared to the
other quantity.
Lagging phase
difference
A quantity which attains
its zero or positive
maximum value after
the other quantity.

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Mathematical Representation of Phasor

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Latur – Nanded Highway, Kolpa, Latur - 413 512
Latur – Nanded Highway, Kolpa, Latur - 413 512
 R, L, C circuit elements it's voltage and
current response.
1. Purely Resistive Circuit
The Fig. an AC circuit consisting of a pure resistor to which an alternating voltage
vt=Vmsinωt is applied.
• Circuit Diagram

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Equations for Voltage and Current
As show in the Fig. voltage source
vt=Vm Sin ωt
According to ohm’s law

From above equations it is clear that current is in phase with voltage for purely resistive
circuit.

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Waveforms and Phasor Diagram
The sine wave and vector representation of vt = Vm Sinωt & it = Im Sinωt
are given in Fig.

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Purely Inductive Circuit
The Fig. an AC circuit consisting of a pure Inductor to which an alternating voltage
vt=Vm Sin ωt
Circuit Diagram

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Equations for Voltage and Current
As show in the Fig. voltage source
vt=Vm Sin ωt
Due to self-inductance of the coil, there will be emf indued in it. This back emf will
oppose the instantaneous rise or fall of current through the coil, it is given by

As, circuit does not contain any resistance, there is no ohmic drop and hence applied
voltage is equal and opposite to back emf.

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From the above equations it is clear that the current lags the voltage by 900 in a purely
inductive circuit.

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Waveform and Phasor Diagram

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 Purely Capacitive Circuit
The Fig. 2.19 shows a capacitor of capacitance C farads connected to an a.c. voltage supply
vt=Vm Sin ωt
Circuit Diagram

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 Equations for Voltage & Current
As show in the Fig. voltage source
vt=Vm Sin ωt
A pure capacitor having zero resistance. Thus, the alternating supply applied to the plates of
the capacitor, the capacitor is charged.
If the charge on the capacitor plates at any instant is ‘q’ and the potential difference between
the plates at any instant is ‘vt’ then we know that,
q = Cvt
q = CVm sinωt
The current is given by rate of change of charge.

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From the above equations it is clear that the current leads the voltage by 900 in a
purely capacitive circuit.

Waveform and Phasor Diagram

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 Reactance & Impedance
Reactance (X):- The opposition offered by inductance and capacitance of a circuit to the flow
of an alternating current is called Reactance
It is denoted by X & unit is Ohm (Ω)
1) Inductive Reactance (XL)
XL = 2πf L Ω
2) Capacitive Reactance (Xc)
Xc = 1/ 2πf L Ω
Impedance (Z):- it is combine effect produced by the resistance inductive reactance &
Capacitive Reactance in the AC circuit.
Z = √R2+X2

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 Power

(i) Active Power:

Active power (P) is the product of voltage, current and the cosine of the phase angle between
voltage and current.
Unit: watt (W) or kilo-watt (kW) or Mega-watt (MW)
P=VIcos∅=I2R watt
(ii) Reactive Power:
Reactive power (Q) is the product of voltage, current and the sine of the phase angle between
voltage and current.
Unit: volt-ampere-reactive (VAr), or kilo-volt-ampere-reactive (kVAr) or Mega-volt-ampere-
reactive (MVAr)
Q=VIsin∅=I2X volt-amp-reactive

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(iii) Apparent Power (S):
This is simply the product of RMS voltage and RMS current.
Unit: volt-ampere (VA) or kilo-volt-ampere (kVA)
or Mega-vol-ampere (MVA)
S=VI=I2Z volt-amp
(iv) Power Factor:
It is the cosine of the angle between the applied voltage and the resulting current.
Power factor = cos ∅
where, ∅ is the phase angle between applied voltage and current.
OR
It is the ratio of true or effective or real power to the apparent
power.
Power factor =True Or Effective Or Real Power/Apparent Power= VIcos ∅/VI=cos ∅
OR
It is the ratio of circuit resistance to the circuit impedance.
Power factor =Circuit Resistance/Circuit Impedance= R/Z=cos ∅

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 Series Resistance-Inductance (R-L) Circuit

Consider a circuit consisting of a resistor of resistance R ohms and a purely inductive coil of
inductance L henry in series as shown in the Figure
In the series circuit, the current it flowing through R and L will be the same.
But the voltage across them will be different. The vector sum of voltage across resistor VR and
voltage across inductor VL will be equal to supply voltage vt.

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 Waveforms and Phasor Diagram
The voltage and current waves in R-L series circuit is shown in Fig.

So, to draw the vector diagram, first I taken as the reference. This is shown in the Fig. 2.24. Next VR drawn
in phase with I. Next VL is drawn 90o leading the I.
The supply voltage V is then phasor Addition of VR and VL.
Thus, from the above, it can be said that the current in series R-L circuit lags the applied voltage V by an
angle ∅ If supply voltage
v=Vm Sin ωt

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Power Factor
Power factor = cos Z/R = P/S

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 Series Resistance-Capacitance Circuit

Consider a circuit consisting of a resistor of resistance R ohms and a purely capacitive of capacitance farad in
series as in the Fig.
In the series circuit, the current it flowing through R and C will be the same. But the voltage across them will
be different.
The vector sum of voltage across resistor VR and voltage across capacitor VC will be equal to supply voltage
vt.

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 Waveforms and Phasor Diagram

We know that in purely resistive the voltage and current in a resistive circuit both are in phase and therefore
vector VR is drawn superimposed to scale onto the current vector and in purely capacitive circuit the current I
lead the voltage VC by 90o.
So, to draw the vector diagram, first I taken as the reference. This is shown in the Fig. 2.30. Next VR drawn in
phase with I. Next VC is drawn 90o lagging the I. The supply voltage V is then phasor Addition of VR and VC
Thus, from the above equation it is clear that the current in series R-C circuit leads the applied voltage V by an
angle ∅. If supply voltage

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Power Factor
Power factor = cos Z/R = P/S

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 Series RLC circuit
Consider a circuit consisting of a resistor of R ohm, pure inductor of inductance L henry and a pure capacitor
of capacitance C farads connected in series.

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 Since VL and VC are in opposition to each other, there can be two cases:
(1) VL > VC
(2) VL < VC
Case-1 Case-2
When, VL > VC, the phasor diagram would be as When, VL < VC, the phasor diagram would be
in the figure as in the figure

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 REASONANCE
It is defined as the resonance in electrical circuit having passive or active elements represents a particular state
when the current and the voltage in the circuit is maximum and minimum with respect to the magnitude of
excitation at a particular frequency and the impedances being either minimum or maximum at unity power factor
Series Resonance :- Let a resistance of ‘R’ ohm, inductance of ‘L’ henry and capacitance of ‘C’ farad are
connected in series across A.C. supply.
The impedance of the circuit
Z=R+J(XL-Xc)
Z=√R*2+(XL-Xc)*2
The condition of series resonance:
The resonance will occur when the reactive part of the line
current is zero
The p.f. becomes unity.
The net reactance will be zero.
The current becomes maximum.
At resonance net
reactance is zero
 Quality Factor (Q-factor)

Graphical Method