Module 3

Methods in Circuit Analysis

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE
 NETWORK THEOREMS
The following network theorems are to be
discussed:
• Kirchoff’s Laws
• Maxwell’s Mesh Analysis
• Nodal Analysis
• Superposition Theorem
• Delta-Wye Transformation
 ELECTRICAL NETWORK
TERMINOLOGIES
• Electrical Circuit – it is a closed conducting path
through which an electric current either flows or intended
to flow.
• Electrical Parameters – these are the various circuit
parameters of an electric circuit like resistance,
inductance and capacitance. These may be lumped or
distributed.
• Linear Circuit – it is a circuit whose parameters are
constant i.e. they do not change with voltage or current.
• Non-linear Circuit – it is a circuit whose parameters
change with voltage or current.
 ELECTRICAL NETWORK
TERMINOLOGIES (cont…)
• Bilateral Circuit – it is that circuit whose properties or
characteristics are the same in either direction. The
usual transmission line is an example of a bilateral
circuit.
• Unilateral Circuit – it is that circuit whose properties or
characteristics change with direction of its operation. A
diode rectifier is an example of a unilateral circuit.
• Electrical Network – it is a combination of various
electrical elements, connected in any manner
whatsoever.
• Passive Network – it is a network which contains no
source of e.m.f. in it.
• Active Network – it is a network which contains one or
more sources of e.m.f.
 NETWORK ANALYSIS

• Network Analysis – it is the process of

determining the various currents and
voltages in an electrical network.
• Branch – it is that part of a network which
lies between two junctions.
• Loop – it is a closed path in a circuit in
which an element or node is encountered
more than once.
 KIRCHHOFF’S LAWS
This was developed by the
German physicist Gustav Robert
Kirchhoff. Kirchhoff established
two laws, namely:
1. Kirchhoff’s Current Law
(KCL)
2. Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
(KVL)

Gustav Robert Kirchhoff

(1824 – 1887)
 KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW
It states that in any electrical
network, the algebraic sum of the Illustration of KCL:
currents meeting at a junction is
zero.

Sign Convention for Kirchhoff’s

Current Law
a. A current entering a junction must be
preceded by a positive sign.
b. A current leaving a junction must be
preceded by a negative ign.
 KIRCHHOFF’S MESH LAW or
VOLTAGE LAW

It states that the algebraic sum of all the voltage

drops of resistances across each of the conductors
in any closed path (or mesh) in a network plus the
algebraic sum of the emf’s connected in that path is
zero.

Sign Convention for Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

a. A potential rise must be preceded by a positive sign.
b. A potential drop must be preceded by a negative
sign.
 KIRCHHOFF’S MESH LAW or
VOLTAGE LAW (cont…)

Potential rises when:

a. Going through a voltage source
from negative to positive
terminals.
b. Going through a resistor in the
opposite direction as the flow of
current.

Potential drops when:

a. Going through a voltage source
from positive to negative
terminals.
b. Going through a resistor in the
same direction as the flow of
current
 KIRCHHOFF’S MESH LAW or
VOLTAGE LAW (cont…)
Illustration of KVL:

Using path abcda:

-IR1 – EB – IrB – IR2 – IrA +EA = 0
 Sample Problem on
Kirchhoff’s Laws
1. Given:
EA = 150 volts
EB = 200 volts
rA = 0.5 ohm
rB = 0.8 ohm
R1 = 8.5 ohms
R2 = 10 ohms
R3 = 15.2 ohms
R4 = 2 ohms
Determine I1, I2 and I3.
 Sample Problem on
Kirchhoff’s Laws
2. For the circuit shown, find VAG and VCE.
 INDEPENDENT AND
DEPENDENT SOURCES
• Independent Sources – these
are voltage or current sources,
which do not depend on any other
quantity in the circuit.
• Dependent Sources – these are
voltage or current sources, which
depends on some other quantity
in the circuit. These are
represented by a diamond shape
symbol.
• Types of Dependent Sources:
a. Voltage-dependent voltage
source
b. Current-dependent voltage
source
c. Voltage-dependent current
source
d. Current-dependent current
source
 Sample Problem on
Kirchhoff’s Laws
3. Using Kirchhoff’s current law, find the values of the
currents i1 and i2 in the circuit which contains a
current-dependent current source.
 Sample Problem on
Kirchhoff’s Laws
4. Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law to find the values of current
i and the voltage drops v1 and v2 in the circuit shown which
contains a current dependent voltage source. What is the
voltage of the dependent source?
 ELECTRIC CELLS
• Electric Cell – it is an electrochemical
device that is used to store chemical
energy for conversion later to electric
energy. Electrochemical cells are rated
in terms of their voltage and
ampere-hour capacity.
• Ampere-hour capacity – these refer to
the number of ampere-hours that the
battery can deliver under specific
conditions of temperature, rate of
discharge and final voltage.
• Battery – it is an assembly of two or
more cells. Cells can be connected in
series or in parallel. Cells are connected
in series to increase the voltage output
and cells are connected in parallel to
increase the current output.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CELLS

1. According to the manner to which its chemical energy is

converted into electrical energy:
a. Primary cells – these cells cannot be recharged and must be
discarded when no longer usable; their active part is consumed
during discharge.
b. Secondary cell – these cells may be recharged by passing
current through the battery in the reverse direction.
2. According to the type of electrolyte used:
a. Wet cell – these are cells that used liquid chemicals for
electrolyte.
b. Dry cell – these are cells that contain a chemical paste.
SECONDARY CELLS

Where:
V = terminal voltage in volts
E = internal emf in volts
I = current in amperes
r = internal resistance of the battery
in ohms

VI = power delivered by the battery

EI = power generated or power
developed by the battery
I2r = power lost in the battery
CHARGING OF BATTERY

If V > E 🡪 battery is charging

If V < E 🡪 battery is discharging

VI = power delivered by the

battery
EI = power generated or power
developed by the battery
I2r = power lost in the battery
CELLS IN SERIES
CELLS IN PARALLEL
 Sample Problems
1. The open-circuit emf of a dry cell is 1.5 volts. When it
delivers a current of 2 amperes, its terminal voltage drops
to 1.45 volts. (a) Determine its internal resistance. (b) If a
load resistance of 5 ohms is connected across the cell,
calculate the current and terminal voltage of the cell.
Solution:

(a) For the internal resistance

(b) If a load resistance of 5 ohms is connected across the cell,

calculate the current and terminal voltage of the cell.
 Sample Problems
2. A battery is made up of 120 cells in series. Each cell has an
internal emf of 2.20 volts and an internal resistance of 0.0015
ohm. Calculate (a) the terminal voltage necessary to charge the
battery with a 60 ampere charging current, (b) total power
delivered to the battery, (c) power lost in the battery.

Solution:

(a) For the terminal voltage necessary to charge the battery with a
60 ampere charging current
(b) For the total power delivered to the battery,

(c) For the power lost in the battery.

 MAXWELL’S LOOP CURRENT
METHOD OR MESH ANALYSIS
• Maxwell’s Mesh Analysis
This method which is particularly
well-suited to coupled-circuit solutions
employs a system of loop or mesh
current instead of branch currents (as in
Kirchhoff’s laws). Here, the currents in
different meshes are assigned
continuous paths so that they do not
split at a junction into branch currents.
• Mesh – it is a loop that contains no other
loop within it.
• Steps in using Maxwell’s Mesh
Analysis: I1 = I A I2 = I A – I B I3 = -IB
a. Divide the network into separate
meshes. Where:
b. Assume a clockwise direction of IA and IB are the mesh currents
circulating current (called the mesh
currents) around each mesh. I1, I2 and I3 are the resulting branch
c. Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law to currents
each mesh.
 Sample Problem on
Maxwell’s Mesh Analysis

1. Given:
EA = 200 V R1 =
3Ω
EB = 150 V R2 =
6.2 Ω
EC = 50 V R3 =
8Ω
ED = 70 V R4 =
10 Ω
rA = 0.5 Ω R5 =
9Ω
rB = 0.8 Ω R6 =
4.5 Ω
 Sample Problem on
Maxwell’s Mesh Analysis
2. Applying loop analysis, solve for I1 and I2.
 NODAL ANALYSIS
• Nodal Analysis
b. One node will be regarded as
The node-equation method is the reference node or node of
based directly on Kirchhoff’s zero potential.
current law unlike mesh analysis c. Apply Kirchhoff’s current law to
which is based on Kirchhoff’s each node.
voltage law. This method is
particularly suited for networks
having many parallel circuits
with common ground connected
such as electronics circuits.
• Node – it is junction in a circuit
where two or more circuit
elements are connected
together.
• Steps in Using Nodal
Analysis:
a. The number of equations
to formed is n – 1; where n is
the number of nodes.
 Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis

1. Given:
EA = 200 V

EB = 50 V

EC = 150 V

rA = 0.8 Ω

rB = 0.5 Ω
R1 = 2.2 Ω

R2 = 4 Ω
R3 = 4.5 Ω
R4 = 5.5 Ω
R5 = 10 Ω
Find the currents by nodal analysis.
R6 = 90 Ω
 Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis
2. Use nodal analysis to find the currents in the
various resistors of the circuit shown.
 Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis
3. Using nodal analysis,
find V1 and V2.
 Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis

4. Use nodal analysis to

determine the value of the
current i in the network shown.
 SUPERPOSITION THEOREM

It states that the total current in any

branch of a bilateral linear circuit
equals the algebraic sum of the
currents produced by each source
acting separately throughout the
circuit.
To ascertain the contribution of each
individual source, all of the other sources
first must be "killed" (set to zero) by:
a. Replacing all other voltage source with
a short circuit (thereby eliminating
difference of potential. i.e. V = 0)
b. Replacing all other current sources
with an open circuit (thereby
eliminating flow of current. i.e. I = 0)
 SUPERPOSITION
THEOREM (cont…)
Where:
I1’, I2’ and I3’ are the component
currents caused by EA acting alone
in the circuit.

I1”, I2” and I3” are the component

currents caused by EB acting alone
in the circuit.

I1, I2 and I3 are the resulting currents

caused by the simultanoues action
of EA and EB in the circuit.

I1 = I1’ – I1”
I2 = I2’ + I2”
I3 = -I3’ + I3”
 Sample Problem on
Superposition Theorem

1. Use superposition theorem to find the current I in the circuit

shown.
 Sample Problem on
Superposition Theorem

2. Given:
EA = 200 V R1 = 4.5
Ω
EB = 160 V R2 = 30
Ω
EC = 60 V R3 =
19.2 Ω
rA = 0.5 Ω R4 = 10
Ω
rB = 0.8 Ω
Find I1, I2 and I3 by
superposition theorem.
Solution:
(a) Consider EA acting alone in the circuit
(b) Consider EB acting alone in the circuit
(c) Consider EC acting alone in the circuit
Finally,
 Sample Problem on
Superposition Theorem
3. Use superposition theorem to determine the voltage v in the
network shown.
 DELTA AND WYE CONNECTED
RESISTANCES
In the analysis of networks, it is often helpful to convert a Y-connected load to
an equivalent delta-connected load and vice versa. This was developed by
the Americal electrical engineer Arthur Edwin Kennelly (1861 – 1939).
1. Wye (Star) - Delta Transformation
The resistance of an arm of the Δ is equal to the sum of the products of
the resistances of the arms of the Y divided by the Y resistance directly
opposite to the Δ resistance.
 DELTA AND WYE CONNECTED
RESISTANCES
2. Delta - Wye (Star) Transformation
The resistance of an arm of the Y is equal to the product of the
resistances of the adjacent arms of the Δ divided by the sum of the Δ
resistances.
 Sample Problem on
Delta-Wye Transformation
1. Convert the Y-system ao-bo-co to delta system and
find (a) the total resistance and (b) the currents Iab’, Idd’,
Iao, Ioc and Iob.
 Sample Problem on
Delta-Wye Transformation
2. Convert the delta systems ac-ao-co and bo-od-bd
and find (a) the total resistance and (b) the current
Ief.