Network Transients 2 - GATE Study

Material in PDF

In the previous article we have seen about the introduction of network transients. We
also saw the behavior of Passive Elements during Transients. In this article, entitled
‘Network Transients 2’ we will see some more important points about network
transients. Specifically, Network Transients 2 will deal with DC Transients.

These concepts are useful from the point of view of Network Theory for GATE EC,
GATE EE, IES, BARC, DRDO, BSNL, ECIL and other such exams. You can download
these free GATE 2018 Notes in PDF to help you learn at your own pace.

Before you start with this GATE 2018 Study Material, make sure you are up-to-date
with the underlying concepts discussed in previous articles.

Recommended Reading –

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem
Kirchhoff’s Laws – KCL & KVL
Nodal & Mesh Analysis
Voltage Division, Current Division, Star-Delta Conversion
Thevenin’s, Norton's & Tellegen’s Theorems
Maximum Power Transfer & Superposition Theorem for EC
Superposition & Maximum Power Transfer Theorem for EE

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 Network Transients - 1

Basically network transients are classified into two types

i. DC transients
ii. AC transients

i. DC Transients
They are again classified into two types

a. Source free circuits (without independent source)

b. Circuit with sources (at t = 0+ and at t = ∞)

a. Source Free Circuits

In all the source free circuits the stored energies in the memory elements (L and C)
are maximum at t = 0 and as a function of time these stored energies will be
delivered to memory less resistances in a exponentially decayed manner.

These source free circuits again classified into three types namely, Source free RL,
Source free RC and source free RLC Circuits.

1. Source Free RL Circuit

(For t > 0)
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VR + VL = 0

di
iR + L. dt = 0

di R
+Li = 0
dt

R
∴ i(t) = k. e− L t for 0 ≤ t < ∞

At t = 0+ ∶ i(t) = I0 = K. e−0 ⇒ K = I0

R
∴ i(t) = I0 . e− L t A for 0 ≤ t ≤ ∞.

L
Where = τ = time constant of RL circuit
R

d
VL (t) = L. dt iL (t)

iL (t) = I0 . e−t|τ

iL (t = τ) = I0 e−1 = 0.368Io

iL (t = 5τ) = I0 e−5 = 0.0067Io ≃ 0

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 2t t
1 1 −
Energy EL (t) = 2 . L. i2L (t) = 2 . L. I02 . e− τ = EL0 . e τE
for 0 ≤ t ≤ ∞

τi L
Where τE = = 2R sec
2

Note:

Energy decay is two times faster than current decay.

Example 1:
Determine the time constant of given circuit

Solution:
Leq
Time constant τ =
Req

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Leq = 2 + 6||6 = 2 + 3 = 5H

R eq = 4||4 + 8 = 2 + 8 = 10Ω

5
∴ τ = 10 = 0.5sec

Example:

For the given circuit, switch is closed for a long time and is open at t = 0. Then find
V(0+) and iL(t) for t ≥ 0

Solution: At t = 0-: switch is closed and also network is in steady state. So

inductor acts like a short circuit.
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 24
∴ iL (0− ) = 10 = 2.4A = iL (0+ )

At t = 0+: switch is closed and network is in transient state. So inductor acts like an
open circuit

Apply KVL we get,

2.4 (40) + V = 0

∴ V = V(0+) = -96V

L 5 1
τ=R = 40+10 = 10
eq

t
∴ Current through inductor, iL (t) = Io e−τ

∴ iL (t) = 2.4e−10t A; 0 ≤ t ≤ ∞

In the next article we will discuss about source free RC Circuits and Source free RLC
Circuits with examples.

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Liked this article on Network Transients 2? Let us know in the comments. You may
also like some more articles in our series to help you ace your exam and have
concepts made easy –

Network Transients - 3

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