Department of Electrical Engineering

Academic year: 2024-25, Semester: I

100106: Basic Electrical Engineering

Module 1: DC Circuits

Lecture: Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Instructor: Dr. Bablesh Kumar Jha

1 Objectives:
• State and explain maximum power transfer theorem.

2 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Why do we use?
In many practical situations, a circuit is designed to provide power to a load. There are applications
in areas such as communications where it is desirable to maximize the power delivered to a load.
We now address the problem of delivering the maximum power to a load when given a system with
known internal losses.
Example: As we are probably aware, a normal car battery is rated at 12 V and generally has
an open circuit voltage of around 13.5 V. Similarly, if we take 9 pen-torch batteries, they too will
have a terminal voltage of 9 × 1.5 = 13.5 V . However, we know that if our car battery is dead,
we cannot start our car with 9 pen-torch batteries. The reason behind that is that a pen-torch
batteries, although having the same open-circuit voltage do not have necessary power (or current
capacity) and hence the required current cannot be given. Or if stated in different terms, it has too
high an internal resistance so that the voltage would drop without giving the necessary current.

Statement: It states that ‘the maximum power is delivered from a source to a load when the
load resistance is equal to the Thevenin’s resistance.’
Proof: We assume that we can adjust the load resistance If the entire circuit is replaced by its
Thevenin equivalent except for the load, as shown in Fig. 1, the power delivered to the load is

Figure 1: Illustration of Maximum power transfer

1
  2
2 VT h
p = i RL = RL (1)
RT h + RL
For a given circuit, VT h and RT h are fixed. By varying the load resistance RL the power delivered
to the load varies as sketched in Fig. 2.

Figure 2: Power delivered to the load as a function of RL

We notice from Fig. 2 that the power is small for small or large values of RL but maximum for
some value of RL between 0 and ∞. Now want to show that this maximum power occurs when
RL = RT h
To prove the maximum power transfer theorem, we differentiate p in Eq. (1) with respect to RL
and set the result equal to zero.
(RT h + RL )2 − 2RL (RT h + RL )
 
dp 2
= VT h =0
dRL (RT h + RL )4
 
2 (RT h + RL − 2RL )
= VT h =0
(RT h + RL )3
This implies that
0 = (RT h + RL − 2RL ) = (RT h − RL )
Which yields
RL = RTh
Hence, the maximum power will be transferred to the load when load resistance is equal to the
Thevenin’s resistance.

2.1 Steps to be followed in Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

1. Remove the variable load resistor RL .
2. Find the open circuit voltage VT h across opened load resistor.
3. Find the resistance RT h as seen from opened load resistor.
4. Find the resistance RL for maximum power transfer.
5. Find the maximum power
VT h VT h
IL = =
RT h + RL 2RT h
2 2
VTh VTh
Pmax = I2 RL = =
4R2Th × RTh 4RTh

2
Example-1: Find the value of resistance RL in Fig. 3 for maximum power transfer and calculate
maximum power.

Figure 3: Example-1

Solution: Calculation of VT h (Fig. 4)

Figure 4: Solution of example-1

I2 − I1 = 4 (2)
Applying KVL to the outer path,

8 − 1I1 − 5I1 − 5I2 − 10 = 0

−6I1 − 5I2 = 2 (3)

Solving Eqs (2) and (3),
I1 = −2 A; I2 = 2 A
Writing the VT h equation,
8 − 1I1 − VT h = 0
VT h = 8 − I1 = 8 − (−2) = 10 V
Calculation of RT h (Fig. 5)

Figure 5: Solution of example-1

3
 RT h = 10||1 = 0.91 Ω
Calculation of RL
For maximum power transfer
RL = RT h = 0.91 Ω

Figure 6: Solution of example-1

Calculation of Pmax
VT2h (10)2
Pmax = = = 27.47 W
4RT h 4 × 0.91
Example-2: For the value of resistance RL in Fig. 7 for maximum power transfer and calculate
the maximum power.

Figure 7: Example-2

Solution: Calculation of VT h (Fig. 8)

Figure 8: Solution of example-2

Applying KVL to Mesh 1,

80 − 5I1 − 10(I1 − I2 ) − 20(I1 − I2 ) − 20 = 0

4
 35I1 − 30I2 = 60 (4)
Writing the current equation for Mesh 2,
I2 = 2 (5)
Solving Eqs (4) and (5),
I1 = 3.43 A
Writing the VT h equation,
VT h − 20(I1 − I2 ) − 20 = 0
VT h = 20(3.43 − 2) + 20 = 48.6 V
Calculation of RT h (Fig. 9)

Figure 9: Solution of example-2

RT h = 15||20 = 8.57 Ω
Calculation of RL
For maximum power transfer
RL = RT h = 8.57 Ω
Calculation of Pmax (Fig. 10)

Figure 10: Solution of example-2

VT2h (48.6)2
Pmax = = = 68.9 W
4RT h 4 × 8.57
Example-3: For the network shown in Fig. 11, find the value of RL for maximum power transfer.
Also, find maximum power.
Solution: Calculation of VT h (Fig. 12)
From Fig. 12,
Vx = −1I1 = −I1 (6)

5
 Figure 11: Example-3

Figure 12: Solution of example-3

For Mesh 1,
I = −1 (7)
Vx = 1 V
Writing the VT h equation,
2Vx − 1I + 2 − VT h = 0
2(1) − (−1) + 2 − VT h = 0
VT h = 5 V
Calculation of IN (Fig. 13)

Figure 13: Solution of example-3

From Fig. 13,

Vx = −1I1 = −I1 (8)
Meshes 1 and 2 will form a supermesh.
Writing the current equation for the supermesh,

I2 − I1 = 1 (9)

Applying KVL to the outer path of the supermesh,

2Vx − 1I1 + 2 = 0

6
 2(−I1 ) − I1 + 2 = 0
3I1 = 2 (10)
Solving Eqs (9) and (10),
I1 = 0.67 A; I2 = 1.67 A
IN = I2 = 1.67 A
Calculation of RT h
VT h 5
RT h = = =3Ω
IN 1.67
Calculation of RL For maximum power transfer,

RL = RT h = 3 Ω

Calculation of Pmax (Fig. 14)

Figure 14: Solution of example-3

VT2h (5)2
Pmax = = = 2.08 W
4RT h 4×3
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 Problems for Practice
Question-1 For the network shown in Fig. 15, find the value of the resistance RL for maxi-
mum power transfer and calculate the maximum power.

Figure 15: Practice problem-1

Answer: RL = 5 Ω; PM ax = 11.25 W
Question-2 Find the value of resistance RL in Fig. 16 for maximum power transfer and calculate
maximum power.

Figure 16: Practice problem-2

Answer: RL = 6.48 Ω; PM ax = 0.29 W

Question-3 For the network shown in Fig. 17, find the value of RL for maximum power transfer.
Also, calculate maximum power.

Figure 17: Practice problem-3

Answer: RL = 16 Ω; PM ax = 1.56 W
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If you have any doubts or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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The important thing about a problem is not its solution, but the strength we gain in finding
the solution !
-Anonymous