EC1021 – Electrical Systems

Nimsiri Abhayasinghe
PhD(Curtin), MSc(Moratuwa), BSc Eng (Hons)
(Moratuwa)
Subashini De Silva
MSc(Colombo), BEng (Hons) (SHU)
Department of Electrical & Electronic
Engineering
 DC Circuit Analysis
2

Chapter 8 of the reference book

 Recap…
3
We discussed basic
circuit analysis with KVL,
KCL and Ohm’s law in
last lecture.
These circuits had one
source only.
Circuits with Multiple Sources
4
 Methods of Analysis
5

Branch Current Analysis

Mesh (Loop) Analysis
Nodal Analysis

Any of these methods can be used in analysis of a

network.
However, some methods are better for certain
networks than the others.
 Linear Bilateral Networks
6

In these analysis, we consider Linear Bilateral Networks.

Linear – components used in
the circuit have voltage-current
characteristics that follow a
straight line
Bilateral – components in the network will have
characteristics that are independent of the direction of the
current through the element or the voltage across the
element
 Constant Sources
7

Constant voltage sources give constant voltage

supply independent to the load connected.
Constant current sources give constant current
supply independent to the load connected.
 Example
8
Determine the voltages
V1, V2, and VS and the
current IS for the circuit.
 Example
9
Determine the voltages Since the given circuit is a series
circuit, the current everywhere in the
V1, V2, and VS and the circuit must be the same
current IS for the circuit.
Using Ohm’s law

Applying KVL around the loop,

From the preceding result, you see

that the actual polarity of VS is
opposite to that assumed.
Source Conversion Revisit
10
 Example
11

Convert the voltage source of Figure (a) into a

current source and verify that the current, IL,
through the load is the same for each source.
12
13
 Branch Current Analysis
14

Branch-current analysis allows us to directly

calculate the current in each branch of a circuit. This
method involves the analysis of several simultaneous
linear equations.
Determinants may be used to make the
simplification easier.
 Branch Current Analysis – Steps
15

1. Arbitrarily assign current directions to each branch in the

network. If a particular branch has a current source, then this
step is not necessary since you already know the magnitude and
direction of the current in this branch.
2. Using the assigned currents, label the polarities of the voltage
drops across all resistors in the circuit.
3. Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law around each of the closed loops.
Write just enough equations to include all branches in the loop
equations. If a branch has only a current source and no series
resistance, it is not necessary to include it in the KVL equations.
4. Apply Kirchhoff’s current law at enough nodes to ensure that all
branch currents have been included. In the event that a branch
has only a current source, it will need to be included in this step.
5. Solve the resulting simultaneous linear equations.
 Example
16

Find the current in each branch of the circuit.

 Solution
17
Step 1: Assign current
directions to each
branch.
Step 2 – Mark the
polarities of the voltage
across all the resistors in
the circuit.
 Solution
18

Step 3: Write the Kirchhoff voltage law equations.

Step 4: Write the Kirchhoff current law equation(s).

Solution
19
Determinant expansion
20
Solution
21
Solution
22
Solution
23
 Complex Circuits
24

If the number of branches is larger, Branch Current

Analysis becomes difficult.
 Mesh (Loop) Analysis
25

Less number of simultaneous equations to solve –

easier to solve!!!
Use KVL only.
 Mesh Analysis – Steps
26

1. Arbitrarily assign a clockwise current to each interior closed loop

in the network. Although the assigned current may be in any
direction, a clockwise direction is used to make later work simpler.
2. Using the assigned loop currents, indicate the voltage polarities
across all resistors in the circuit. For a resistor that is common to
two loops, the polarities of the voltage drop due to each loop
current should be indicated on the appropriate side of the
component.
3. Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law, write the loop equations for each
loop in the network. Do not forget that resistors that are common
to two loops will have two voltage drops, one due to each loop.
4. Solve the resultant simultaneous linear equations.
5. Branch currents are determined by algebraically combining the
loop currents that are common to the branch.
 Example
27

Find the current in each branch of the circuit.

 Solution
28
Step 1: Assign clockwise
current to each interior
loop. (The direction of the
current can be assigned in
any direction but clockwise
is selected to make further
calculations easy.)
Step 2: Mark the
polarities of the voltage
across all the resistors in
the circuit using the
assigned currents.
 Solution
29

Step 3: The loop equations are written by applying

Kirchhoff’s voltage law in each of the loops.

Step 4: Simplify simultaneous equations.

30
 Example 2
31

Determine the current through the 8-V battery for

the circuit shown in the figure.
Source Conversion
32
Solution
33
Solution
34
Solution
35
Solution
36
 Nodal Analysis
37

KCL is used in Nodal Analysis to determine potential

difference at any node with respect to an arbitrary
reference point in the network.
Once all voltages are known, any other parameter
can easily determined.
 Nodal Analysis – Steps
38

1. Arbitrarily assign a reference node within the circuit and indicate this node as
ground. The reference node is usually located at the bottom of the circuit,
although it may be located anywhere.
2. Convert each voltage source in the network to its equivalent current source. This
step, although not absolutely necessary, makes further calculations easier to
understand.
3. Arbitrarily assign voltages (V1, V2, … , Vn) to the remaining nodes in the circuit.
(Remember that you have already assigned a reference node, so these voltages
will all be with respect to the chosen reference.)
4. Arbitrarily assign a current direction to each branch in which there is no current
source. Using the assigned current directions, indicate the corresponding
polarities of the voltage drops on all resistors.
5. With the exception of the reference node (ground), apply Kirchhoff’s current law
at each of the nodes. If a circuit has a total of n + 1 nodes (including the reference
node), there will be n simultaneous linear equations.
6. Rewrite each of the arbitrarily assigned currents in terms of the potential
difference across a known resistance.
7. Solve the resulting simultaneous linear equations for the voltages (V1, V2, . . . ,
Vn).
 Example
39

Given the circuit of the figure, use nodal analysis to

solve for the voltage Vab.
Source Conversion
40
 Solution
41
 Step 1: Select a convenient
reference node.
 Step 2: Convert the voltage
sources into equivalent
current sources.
 Steps 3 and 4: Arbitrarily
assign node voltages and
branch currents. Indicate
the voltage polarities across
all resistors according to the
assumed current directions.
 Solution
42

Step 5: Apply Kirchhoff’s current law at the nodes

labelled as V1 and V2.
 Solution
43

Step 6: The currents are rewritten in terms of the

voltages across the resistors as follows:
Solution
44
Solution
45
 Solution
46

From the original circuit,

Therefore,