Inductance in AC Circuits

As current flows through a coil,

a magnetic field is created around the coil.
FIGURE 17–3 As current flow decreases,
the magnetic field collapses.
The applied voltage and induced voltage are 180
degrees out of phase with each other.
Computing the Induced Voltage

Measuring the resistance of a Measuring circuit current with an

coil. ammeter.
Inductive Reactance
 Reactance
– Current-limiting property of an inductor
 Inductive reactance
– Symbol: XL
– Measured in ohms
– Factors that determine induced voltage
 Number of turns of wire
 Strength of magnetic field

 Speed of cutting action

Coils with turns closer together produce more
inductance than coils with turns far apart.
Schematic Symbols

Schematic symbols for inductors.

Inductors Connected in Series

 Total inductance of the circuit (LT) equals

the sum of inductances of all the
inductors: LT = L1 + L2 + L3
 Inductive reactance (XLT) of inductors
connected in series equals the sum of
inductive reactances for all the inductors:
XLT = XL1 + XL2 + XL3
Inductors connected in series.
Inductors Connected in
Parallel
 Reciprocal of total inductance is equal to
the sum of reciprocals of all the inductors:
1/LT = 1/L1 + 1/L2 + 1/L3

Inductors connected in parallel.

Voltage and Current Relationships
in an Inductive Circuit

 Pure inductive circuit: current lags the

voltage by 90 degrees

The current lags

the applied voltage
by 90°.
Summary
 Induced voltage
– Proportional to the rate of change of current
– Always opposite in polarity to the applied
voltage
 Inductive reactance (XL)
– Countervoltage that limits current flow
– Measured in ohms
– Proportional to coil inductance and line
frequency
 Summary (cont’d.)
 Inductance (L)
– Measured in henrys (H)
 Inductors are connected in series
– Total inductance is equal to sum of
inductors
 Inductors are connected in parallel
– Reciprocal of the total inductance is equal
to sum of reciprocals of inductors
 Summary (cont’d.)
 Inductors
– Current lags applied voltage by 90
degrees in a pure inductive circuit
– Contain some amount of resistance
Capacitance in AC Circuits
 Capacitors
– Perform a variety of jobs
 Power factor correction, storing an electric
charge to produce a large current pulse,
timing circuits, and electronic filters
– Can be nonpolarized or polarized
 Nonpolarized: used in AC and DC circuits
 Polarized capacitors: used in DC circuits only
Capacitors

 Oppose a change of voltage

 Factors that determine capacitance:
– Surface area of the plates
– Distance between the plates
– Type of dielectric used
 Current
– Can flow only when the capacitor is
charging or discharging
A capacitor is made by separating two metal plates with a dielectric.

A capacitor can be charged by removing electrons from one

plate and depositing electrons on the other plate.
Current flows until the voltage across the capacitor is
equal to the voltage of the battery.

The capacitor remains charged after the battery is

removed from the circuit.
Dielectric Constant

Dielectric constant of different materials.

Capacitor Ratings

 Farad (F): basic unit of capacitance

– Capacitor has a capacitance of one farad
when a change of one volt across its
plates results in a movement of one
coulomb:
 Q= C×V
– When area of the plates, dielectric
constant, and distance between the
plates are known:
 C = K × A / 4.45 D
 Capacitors Connected in
Parallel
 Total capacitance
– Formula:
 CT = C1 + C2 + C3
 CT = 20 µF + 30 µF+ 60 µF
 CT = 110 µF

Capacitors connected in parallel.

 Capacitors Connected in
Series
 Total capacitance
– Formula:
 CT = 1/ 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3
 CT = 1/ 1/20 µF + 1/30 µF + 1/60 µF
 CT = 10 µF

Capacitors connected in series.

Capacitive Charge and
Discharge Rates

 Capacitors
– Charge and discharge at exponential rates
 Curve is divided into five time constants
 Each time constant is equal to 63.2% of the
remaining voltage
Capacitors charge at an exponential rate.
Capacitor discharge curve.
 Applications for
Capacitors
 Among the most used of electric
components
– Power factor correction in industrial
applications
– Start windings of single-phase AC motors
– Phase shifts for SCR and Triac circuits
– Filter pulsating DC
– RC timing circuits
Nonpolarized Capacitors

 Referred to as AC capacitors
– Not sensitive to polarity connection
– Can be connected to AC and DC circuits
– Common type: paper capacitor or oil-
filled capacitor
 Used in motor circuits for power factor
correction
Oil-filled paper capacitor.
Polarized Capacitors

 Referred to as electrolytic capacitor

– Have one terminal identified as positive
or negative
– Only used in DC circuits
– Very high capacitance in a small case
– Basic types: wet type or dry type
Wet-type electrolytic capacitor.
Polarized Capacitors
(cont’d.)
 AC electrolytic capacitor
– Special nonpolarized electrolytic capacitor
– Made by connecting two wet-type
electrolytic capacitors together inside the
same case
 Dry-type electrolytic capacitor
– Similar to wet type
 Except gauze is used to hold the borax
solution
 Prevents leaking
Variable Capacitors

 Capacitance value can be changed

over a certain range
 Generally contain a set of movable
plates
– Connected to a shaft and set of
stationary plates
 Trimmer capacitor
– Contains one movable plate and one
stationary plate
 Connecting the Capacitor
into an AC Circuit

 Capacitor connected to an AC circuit

– Current appears to flow through the capacitor
 Current continually changes direction and polarity

A basic capacitor.
Water can flow continuously, but A capacitor connected to an AC
not between the two tanks. circuit.
Capacitive Reactance
 As the capacitor is charged:
– Impressed voltage is developed across its
plates as an electrostatic charge is built up

Countervoltage limits the flow of current.

Capacitive Reactance
(cont’d.)
 Capacitive reactance: countervoltage
caused by capacitance
– Measured in ohms: XC = 1 /(2fC)
 XC: capacitive reactance
  = 3.1416

 f = frequency in hertz

 C = capacitance in farads
Computing Capacitance
 Value of capacitive reactance is known
– Capacitor capacitance can be found using:
 C = 1 / 2fXC
Voltage and Current
Relationships in a Pure
Capacitive Circuit

Capacitive current leads the applied voltage by 90 degrees.

Effects of Frequency in a
Capacitive Circuit

 Capacitive reactance
– Inversely proportional to frequency
 As frequency increases, capacitive reactance
decreases
 As frequency decreases, capacitive reactance
increases
Summary

 Capacitors
– Oppose a change of voltage
– Factors that determine capacitance
 Surface area of the plates
 Distance between the plates

 Type of dielectric used

– Store energy in an electrostatic field

– Current can flow only during charging or
discharging
Summary (cont’d.)

– Charge and discharge at an exponential rate

– Farad (F): basic unit of capacitance
 Generally rated in microfarads, nanofarads, or
picofarads
– Connected in parallel: capacitance values add
– Connected in series: reciprocal of total
capacitance is equal to the sum of reciprocals
of all capacitors
– Charge and discharge times: proportional to
amount of capacitance and resistance
 Summary (cont’d.)

 Five time constants

– Required to charge or discharge a capacitor
 Nonpolarized capacitors (i.e., AC
capacitors)
– Can be connected to DC or AC circuits
 Polarized capacitors (i.e., electrolytic
capacitors)
– Can be connected to DC circuits only
Summary (cont’d.)

 Capacitor is connected to an AC circuit

– Current appears to flow through the capacitor
 Due to continuous increase and decrease of voltage
and continuous change of polarity
 Current flow in a pure capacitive circuit
– Limited by capacitive reactance
 Inversely proportional to capacitance of the
capacitor and AC line frequency
 Measured in ohms