Course AC 6 – Basic Electrical Engineering

Sem/AY First Semester/2020-2021

Module No. 6
Lesson Title Maximum Power Transfer in DC Circuits
Week
7
Duration
Date
Description This theorem is a useful circuit analysis method to ensure that the maximum amount
of the of power will be dissipated in the load resistance when the value of the load resistance
Lesson is exactly equal to the resistance of the power source.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Students should be able to meet the following intended learning outcomes:
Learning ● Determine the value of load impedance for which maximum power is
Outcomes transferred from the circuit.
● How the maximum power transfer theorem aids in reaching the maximum
efficiency.
Targets/ At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Objectives ● Understand the relationship between the load resistance and the internal
resistance of the energy source that will give power to the load.

Student Learning Strategies

Online Activities A. Online Discussion via Google Meet

(Synchronous/ You will be directed to attend in a two-hour class discussion on
Asynchronous) Connection of Resistors. To have access to the online discussion, refer to
this link: ____________________.

The online discussion will happen on , from (For

further instructions, refer to your Google Classroom and see the
schedule of activities for this module)

Some useful links for YouTube lectures:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81DkGGi-_-A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0cb0FMFcbA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgiSiNutc3A

B. Learning Guide Questions:

1. Will a Maximum Power Transfer Theorem satisfy the goal of maximum
efficiency?
2. Which conditions a circuit delivers maximum power to a variable load
resistor.

Note: The insight that you will post on online discussion forum using Learning
Management System (LMS) will receive additional scores in class participation.
Offline Activities Lecture Guide
(e-Learning/Self-
Paced) In any electric circuit, the electrical energy from the supply is delivered to the
load where it is converted into a useful work. Practically, the entire supplied
power will not present at load due to the heating effect and other constraints in
the network. Therefore, there exist a certain difference between drawing and
delivering powers. Put simply, this theorem states that the maximum power
that can be transferred from source to load is 50%, which occurs when source
resistance is exactly matched to load resistance. The theorem is not as simple
as it seems at first glance, however, and can be easily misunderstood.

In fact, James Prescott Joule himself did not completely understand the
theorem. During the initial design of the modern-day motor, he said that the
power delivered to the electric motor would always be the same as the heat
lost in the system and, thus, could never achieve more than 50% operational
efficiency. While he was correct in his first statement, he was off the mark in his
deduction about the efficiency of the motor. In reality, maximum efficiency of
the motor — or any circuit under the maximum power transfer condition of
impedance matching — is 50%, but this is not the maximum possible efficiency.
Higher efficiency can be achieved. It was Thomas Edison who realized
maximum power transfer and maximum efficiency are different entities. If load
resistance is increased, higher efficiency can be achieved. Efficiency is the
percentage of input power that is dissipated in the load. The maximum power
transfer theorem tells us the load resistance, which will get maximum
magnitude of power delivered to it by the source. However, input power from
the source depends on load; if load resistance is increased, overall power
decreases in magnitude, but the percentage of input power transferred to load
increases. In other words, when load resistance increases, more power is
dissipated in the load than in the source impedance, Hence, efficiency is
increased. The magnitude of overall power is decreased, however, due to the
increased resistance. Similarly, if load resistance is decreased, a lower
percentage of total input power is dissipated in the load, and efficiency
decreases.

The maximum power transfer theorem deals with matching resistance,

impedance in case of AC system. And while it aids in the design of efficient
circuits, it does not coincide with maximum power input efficiency at all. The
load size always affects the amount of power transferred from the supply
source, i.e., any change in the load resistance results to change in power
transfer to the load. Thus, the maximum power transfer theorem ensures the
condition to transfer the maximum power to the load.
Maximum power transfer theorem states that the DC voltage source will
deliver maximum power to the variable load resistor only when the load
resistance is equal to the source resistance. Similarly, Maximum power
transfer theorem states that the AC voltage source will deliver maximum
power to the variable complex load only when the load impedance is equal to
the complex conjugate of source impedance.
In this lecture, let us discuss about the maximum power transfer theorem for
DC circuits.
Proof of Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Replace any two terminal linear network or circuit to the left side of variable
load resistor having resistance of RL ohms with a Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.
We know that Thevenin’s equivalent circuit resembles a practical voltage
source.

This concept is illustrated in following figures.

The amount of power dissipated across the load resistor is

P L=I 2 R L

V Th
Substitute I = in the above equation.
R Th + R L
V Th 2
P L= ( )
R Th + R L
RL

RL
P L=V Th 2
(( R Th + R L )
2
) ….. eq. 1

Condition for Maximum Power Transfer

For maximum or minimum, first derivative will be zero. So, differentiate
Equation 1 with respect to RL and make it equal to zero.

RL
dPL
=
( (
d V Th 2 2
( R Th + R L ) )) =0
d RL d RL

Applying the quotient rule of derivatives,

 du dv
−u v
d u dx dx
dx v ()
=
v 2

(( R Th + R L)2 x 1 )−( R L x 2 ( RTh + R L ) )

V Th
2
( ( R Th + R L )
4
) =0

4
( RTh + R L )
( ( RTh + R L) 2
(
x 1 )−( R L x 2 ( RTh + R L ) ) =
V Th
2
) x0

( ( RTh + R L )2 x 1 )−( R L x 2 ( RTh + R L ) )=0

2
( RTh + R L ) −2 RL ( R Th + R L ) =0
2
( RTh + R L ) =2 RL ( R Th + R L )
2
( RTh + R L )
=2 R L
( RTh + R L )
RTh + R L =2 R L
RTh =2 R L −R L
RTh =R L

Therefore, the condition for maximum power dissipation across the load

is  RTh =R L. That means, if the value of load resistance is equal to the value of
source resistance i.e., Thevenin’s resistance, then the power dissipated across
the load will be of maximum value.

The value of Maximum Power Transfer

Substitute RL=RTh & PL=PLMax in Equation 1.

RTh
P LMax =V Th 2
(( ) ) R Th + RTh
2

RTh
P LMax =V Th 2
(( ) ) 2 RTh
2

RTh
P LMax =V Th 2
( ) 4 RTh2
V Th2
P LMax =
4 RTh ( )
Since RTh =R L, therefore, the maximum amount of power transferred to the
load is
 V Th 2 V Th2
P LMax = =
4 R Th 4 R L

Efficiency of Maximum Power Transfer

We can calculate the efficiency of maximum power transfer, ηMax  using

following formula.

P L Max
η Max = ………… eq 2
PS

Where,
η Max - maximum power transfer efficiency
P LMax – maximum amount of power transferred to the load.
PS - amount of power generated by the source.

The amount of power generated by the source is

PS =I 2 RTh + I 2 R L
Since, R L=R Th

Therefore; PS =2 I 2 R Th

V Th V Th
Substitute I = , which is also equal to I = in the above equation
R Th + R L 2 RTh

V Th 2
PS =2
( )
2 R Th
R Th

V Th2
PS =2
( ) 4 R Th2
R Th

V Th2
PS = ( )
2 RTh

Substitute the values of PL,Max and PS in Equation 2.

P L Max
η Max =
PS
V Th2

η Max =
( )
4 RL
V Th2
( )
2 RTh
 1
η Max =
2

We can represent the efficiency of maximum power transfer in terms

of percentage as follows

%η Max =η Max x 100 %

1
%η Max = x 100 %
2
%η Max =50 %
Therefore, the efficiency of maximum power transfer is 50 %.
Steps for Solving Network by Maximum Power Transfer Theorem.

1. Remove the load resistance (RL) or component concerned from the

circuit. Find the Thevenin’s resistance (R Th) of the source looking
through the open-circuited load terminals by short circuiting the voltage
sources and open circuiting the current sources and evaluate the circuit
using any applicable circuit analysis.
2. Look at the original circuit still without the RL. Find the Thevenin’s
equivalent Voltage (VTh) using any applicable circuit analysis.
3. As per the maximum power transfer theorem, this R Th is the load
resistance of the network, that is RL= RTh that allows maximum power
transfer.
4. Maximum Power Transfer is calculated by the equation given below.

V Th 2 V Th2
P LMax = =
4 R Th 4 R L

Example

1. Find the maximum power that can be delivered to the load resistor R L of

the circuit shown below.
Step 1 − Remove the load resistance (RL) or component concerned from the
circuit. Find the Thevenin’s resistance (RTh) of the source looking through the
open-circuited load terminals by short circuiting the voltage sources and open
circuiting the current sources and evaluate the circuit using any applicable
circuit analysis.

Here we can see that the 30Ω resistor and 150Ω are connected parallel.
Hence,
1
R P= =25 Ω
1 1
+
30 150
Note that the Rp is the Thevenin’s equivalent resistance RTh, which is also the RL.
Step 2 − Look at the original circuit still without the RL. Find the Thevenin’s
equivalent Voltage (VTh) using any applicable circuit analysis.

From the circuit above, the VTh is in parallel with the voltage drop across
150Ω or the same as the voltage at point C and D, thus we can evaluate this
using voltage divider principle

V Th =360V ( 150150Ω+30Ω Ω )=300 V

Step 3 - As per the maximum power transfer theorem, this R Th is the load
resistance of the network, that is RL= RTh that allows maximum power transfer
The parallel equivalent resistance Rp is happen to be the total Thevenin’s
equivalent resistance RTh,. Therefore
RL = RTh = 25Ω
Step 4 − Maximum Power Transfer is calculated by the equation given below.
V Th 2 V Th2
P LMax = =
4 R Th 4 R L
Substituting the calculated values to the equation gives us,
300 2
P LMax = =900 watts
4 (25)
The equivalent circuit is as shown.
2. Find the maximum power that can be delivered to the load resistor RL of
the circuit shown below.

Solution:

By short circuiting the source and open circuiting the concern Resistance RL,
circuit becomes as shown below. Computing for R Th, the R1 is parallel with R2
and the combination is in series with R3.

1
RTh = + 5=9.28 Ω
1 1
+
30 5

In finding for VTh, the resistor R3 has no effect since the other side of its
terminal is open circuited, hence,
5Ω
V Th =100V (
30 Ω+5 Ω )
=14.28 V

V Th 2 14.282
P LMax = = =5.49 watts
4 R Th 4 (9.28)

RTh = 9.28Ω
VLTh==9.28Ω
R 14.28V
3. Find the maximum power that can be delivered to the load resistor R L of the
circuit shown below.

Solution:

By opening the current source, R1 has no effect and becomes Zero, hence,

RTh =R 2+ R 3=3+2=5 Ω

Since we don’t have a voltage source, we will use the current source instead to
get the VTh
V Th =I RTh
Solving for I, using current divider yields to,
3
I= ( 10 )=6 A
3+2
Therefore
V Th =I RTh =6 ( 5 )=30 V
And,
2
V Th 302
P LMax = = =45 watts
4 R Th 4 (5)

4. Find the maximum power that can be delivered to the load resistor R L by

the voltage source of the circuit shown below.

Now, the given circuit can be further simplified by converting the current
source into equivalent voltage source as follows

We need to find the Thevenin’s equivalent voltage V Th and Thevenin’s

equivalent resistance RTh across the load terminals in order to get the condition
for maximum power transfer. By disconnecting the load resistance, the open-
circuit voltage across the load terminals can be calculated as;

By applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL), we get

12 – 6I – 2I – 16 = 0
– 8I = 4
I = –0.5 A * Negative sign indicates that
the assume current direction I
opposite of the actual direction

The open-circuit voltage across the terminals A and B,

VAB = VTh= 16 – (2 ×0.5) = 15 V or
VTh= 12 + (6 ×0.5) = 15 V

Thevenin’s equivalent resistance across the terminals A and B is obtained by

short-circuiting the voltage sources as shown in the figure below.

1
RTh = =1.5 Ω
1 1
+
6 2
Maximum power is
V Th 2 152
P LMax = = =37.5 watts
4 R Th 4 (1.5)
5. Consider the below circuit, determine the value of the load resistance that
receives the maximum power from the supply source and the maximum power
under the maximum power transfer condition.

The Thevenin’s voltage or voltage across the terminal’s AB is VAB = VA – VB

VA = V × R2 / (R1 + R2)
= 6 × 4 /(4 + 3)
= 3.43 V
VB = V × R4/ (R3 + R4)
= 6 × 1 /(2 + 1)
=2V
VAB = 3.43 – 2
= 1.43
VTh = VAB = 1.43Volts

Thevenin’s equivalent resistance or resistance across the terminal’s AB is

RTh = RAB = [R1R2 / (R1 + R2)] + [R3R4 /(R3 + R4)]
= [(3× 4) / (3 + 4)] + [(2 × 1) / (2+ 1)]
= 1.71 + 0.67
RTh = 2.38 Ohms

Therefore
V Th 2 1.432
P LMax = = =0.214 watts
4 R Th 4 (2.38)

Applications of Maximum Power Transfer

 1. In communication system, maximum power transfer is always sought.
For example, in public address system, the circuit is adjusted for
maximum power transfer by making load resistance (speaker) equal to
the source resistance using amplifier. When source and load have the
same resistance, they are said to be matched.
2. In car engines, the power delivered to the starter motor of the car will
depend upon the effective resistance of the motor and the internal
resistance of the battery. If the two resistances are equal, maximum
power will be transferred to the motor to turn to the engine.

Performance Tasks
PT 6
Check Your Understanding. Analyze the following given problem statement. Show your
solution. Encircle your final answer. Maximum of ten (10) points will be given for every given
problem. Reduce your answer to two (2) decimal places.

Find the maximum power transfer to RL for each of the given circuit.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5.
 Learning Resources

References
Boylestad, R. (2015). Introductory Circuit Analysis, 13th Edition. Pearson.
Hayt, J. e. (n.d.). Engineering circuit Analysis, 7th Edition. 2007: McGraw-Hill Education.
Romeo A. Rojas, J. (n.d.). 1001 Solved Problems in Electrical Engineering.
Sadiku. (2007). Fundamentals of Electric Circuit, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
Theraja, B. L. (2005). A textbook of Electrical Technology Volume 1. S. Chand and Co. Ltd.
V. K. Mehta, R. M. (2008). Basic Electrical Engineering, Revised Edition. S. Chand and Co. Pvt. Ltd.

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/dccircuits/dcp_9.html
https://circuitglobe.com/what-is-maximum-power-transfer-theorem.html
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/network_theory/network_theory_maximum_power_transfer_theore
m.htm

Disclaimer:
This module is for educational purpose only. Under section Sec. 185 of RA 8293, which
states, “The fair use of a copyrighted work for criticism, comment, news reporting,
teaching including multiple copies for classroom use, scholarship, research, and similar
purposes is not an infringement of copyright. The unauthorized reproduction, use, and
dissemination of this module without joint consent of the authors is strictly prohibited
and shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, including appropriate
administrative sanctions, civil, and criminal”