Circle Diagrams: Learning Objectives
Circle Diagrams: Learning Objectives
Circle Diagrams: Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Circle Diagram of a Series
Circuit
Rigorous Mathematical
Treatment
Constant Resistance but
Variable Reactance
Properties of Constant
Reactance But Variable
Resistance Circuit
Simple Transmission Line
Circuit
18
CIRCLE
DIAGRAMS
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Electrical Technology
Fig. 18.1
Fig. 18.2
If R = 0, then I = V/XL or V/XC and has maximum value . It will lag or lead the voltage by
90 depending on whether the reactance is inductive or capacitive. In Fig. 18.2, angle represents
the phase angle. If R is now increased from its zero value, then I and will both decrease. In the
limiting case, when R = , then I = 0 and = 0. It is found that the locus of end point of current
vector OA or OB represents a semi-circuit with diameter equal to V/X as shown in Fig. 18.2. It can
be proved thus :
I = V/Z and sin = X/Z or Z = X/sin I = V sin / X
For constant value of V and X, the above is the polar equation of a circle of diameter V/X.
This equation is plotted in Fig. 18.2. Here, OV is taken as reference vector. It is also seen that for
inductive circuit, the current semi-circle is on the right-hand side of reference vector OV so that
current vector OA lags by . The current semi-circle for R-C circuit is drawn on the left hand side
of OV so that current vector OB lends OV by . It is obvious that AM = I cos , hence AM
represents, on a suitable scale, the power consumed by the R-L circuit, Similarly, BN represents the
power consumed by the R-C circuit.
R.C. Circuits
Circle Diagrams
Fig. 18.3
X
X
V X
V R
R
R
=V 2 =V 2
; x = I sin = L = V L2 = V 2 L 2
2
Z Z
Z Z
Z
R + XL
Z
R + XL
Squaring and adding, we get
y = I cos =
VR
y2
VX L
R2 X2L
VX L
From (i) above,
x
x2
xV
XL
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V2 (R2 X2L )
V2
(R2 X2L )2
R2 X2L
R2 X2L
R2
or
X L2
y2
V
2X L
x2
y2
V2
4X 2L
V2
VX L / x
... (i)
xV
XL
V
x
2XC
V2
4X2C
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Electrical Technology
x2
V
2R
V2
4 R2
Fig. 18.4
Fig. 18.5
I m = V / X L = V / L
= V / XC = VC
Now, power P taken by the circuit is VI cos and if
V is constant, then P I cos . Hence, the ordinates of
current semi-circles are proportional to I cos . The
maximum ordinate possible in the semi-circle represents
the maximum power taken by the circuit. The maximum
ordinate passes through the centre of semi-circle so that
current vector makes an angle of 45 with both the
diameter and the voltage vector OV. Obviously, power
factor corresponding to maximum power intake is cos 45
= 0.707.
Maximum power,
Im 1
= VI m
2
2
Now, for R-L circuit, Im = V/XL
Pm = V AB = V
Fig. 18.6
Circle Diagrams
Pm
V2
2XL
659
V2
2 L
V2
V 2 C
=
2 XC
2
As said above, at maximum power, = 45 , hence vector triangle for voltages is an isosceles
triangle which means that voltage drops across resistance and reactance are each equal to 0.707 of
supply voltage i.e. V / 2 . As current is the same, for maximum power, resistance equals reactance
i.e. R = XL (or XC).
Hence, the expression representing maximum power may be written as Pm = V2/2R.
Fig. 18.7
In fact, if OA2 RL (= AE) is considered to be the output of the circuit (the power transmitted
by the line), then
AE
=
AM
With R and XL constant, the maximum power that can be transmitted by such a circuit occurs
when the extremity of current vector OA coincides with the point of tangency to the circle of a
straight line drawn parallel to OB. Obviously, V times AE under these conditions represents the
maximum power and the power factor at that time is cos 2 .
Example 18.1. A circuit consists of a reactance of 5 in series with a variable resistance.
A constant voltage of 100 V is applied to the circuit. Show that the current locus is circular.
Determine (a) the maximum power input to the circuit (b) the corresponding current, p.f. and
value of the resistance.
(Electrical Science II, Allahabad Univ. 1992)
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Electrical Technology
Solution. For the first part, please refer to Art. 18.1
(a) Im = V/X = 100/5 = 20 A ; Pm =
1
2
VIm =
1
2
100 20 = 1000 W
Circle Diagrams
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Solution. As seen from Art. 18.2 the locus of the tip of the current phasor is a circle whose
equation is
y2
V
2X C
V
4X C2
1
2
VIm =
1
2
Fig. 18.9
100 10 = 500 W
Example 18.7. Prove that the polar locus of the current drawn by a circuit of constant
reactance and variable resistance is circular when the supply voltage and frequency are
constant.
If the reactance of such a circuit is 25 and the voltage 250, draw the said locus and
locate there on the point of maximum power and for this condition, find the power, current, power
factor and resistance.
Locate also the point at which the power factor is 0.225 and for this condition, find the
current, power and resistance.
(Basic Electricity, Bombay Univ.)
Solution. For the first part, please refer to Art. 18.3.
Radius of the current semi-circle is = V/2X = 250/2 25 = 5 A. As discussed in Art. 18.3,
point A [Fig. 18.10 (a)] corresponds to maximum power.
1
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Electrical Technology
Fig. 18.11
3 = 176
Circle Diagrams
The resistive branch draws a fixed
current I2 =100/100 = 1 A. The current I1
drawn by the reactive branch is maximum
when XL = 0 and its maximum value is =
100/50 = 2 A and is in phase with voltage.
In the locus diagram of Fig. 18.12 (b),
the diameter OA of the reactive current semicircle is = 2 A. OB is the value of I1 for some
finite value of XL. O O represents I2. Being
in phase with voltage, it is drawn in phase
with voltage vector OV. Obviously, O B
represents total circuit current, being the
vector sum of I1 and I2.
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Fig. 18.12
The minimum power factor which corresponds to maximum phase difference between O B
and O V occurs when O B is tangential to the semi-circle. In that case, O B is perpendicular to
BC. It means that O BC is a right-angled triangle.
Now,
sin = BC / O C = 1 / (1 + 1) = 0.5; = 30
Minimum p.f. = cos 30 = 0.866 (lag)
Fig. 18.13
(ii) f = 40 Hz
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Electrical Technology
(iii) f = 80 Hz
XL = 100 2 = 200 ; XC = 226/2 = 113 ; X = 200 113 = 87 (inductive)
Z = R 2 + X 2 = 60 2 + 872 = 105.3
I = 120/105.3 = 1.14 A ; p.f. cos = 60/105.3 = 0.57 (lag)