Maximize Average Power Transfer with Impedance ZL - Circuit Analysis Homework

In summary: If it were me, rather than memorize another special case formula to determine the power delivered, I'd use the Thevenin equivalent and the determined load impedance to find the current I through the load, then find the complex power delivered as ##P = I \cdot I^*\cdot Z_L##, where I* is the complex conjugate of I.
  • #1
Color_of_Cyan
386
0

Homework Statement

a) For the circuit shown, determine the impedance ZL that results in maximum average power transfer to the ZL

b) What is the maximum average power transferred to the load impedance?

Homework Equations

Thevenin, Norton procedures, voltage division, current division, etc etcMax. average power = 1/2(Vs/Rs + RL)2 * RLPL = (V/(Rs + RL))2*RL

Rs = RL

Js = -JL

The Attempt at a Solution



I actually do not know how specifically for here how to get the equivalent impedance for the load, but I assume it's the same as finding Thevenin resistance so...

5Ω || 20Ω = 4Ω 4+3j || -6j =

=(1/4+3j + -1/6j)-1=[ (6j-4-3j)/(24j-18) ]-1

= 24j-18 / 3j-4multiplying by conjugate now:

=> * (-3j-4)/(-3j-4)

= (-72j2 - 96j + 54j + 72)/(-9j2 - 12j + 12j + 16)

= (72 + 72 -42j)/25= 144-42j/25

=5.76 - 1.68j

RTh = 5.76Ω - 1.68jΩZL = 5.76 + 1.68jΩNow

average power = 1/2*(20/(5.76 + 5.76))2*5.76 = 8.68WNot sure if this is right
 
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  • #2
You didn't complete the Thevenin model; the voltage driving the load impedance through the Thevenin impedance will not be the original Vs. I don't get the result you did.

If it were me, rather than memorize another special case formula to determine the power delivered, I'd use the Thevenin equivalent and the determined load impedance to find the current I through the load, then find the complex power delivered as ##P = I \cdot I^*\cdot Z_L##, where I* is the complex conjugate of I. The average power is the real component of the complex power.
 
  • #3
Ok, my bad I flipped out there. When finding VTh you have to forget about RTh, and find parallel impedances all over again.

The load impedance is still the same as RTh though right? With the imaginary component negated? So for VTh now, the load cut out will put -j6Ω + j3Ω = -j3Ω

Now the circuit's impedance (just for finding VTh would look like

( -j3Ω || 20Ω) + 5ΩSo ( -j3Ω || 20Ω)

= (1/20Ω - 1/3Ωj)-1

= [ (3Ωj - 20Ω)/(60Ω2j) ]-1

= (60Ω2j)/(3Ωj - 20Ω)Multiplying by complex conjugate now

*(-3Ωj - 20Ω)/(-3Ωj - 20Ω)= (-180Ω3j2 - 1200jΩ3)/(-9Ω2j2 + 400Ω2)

= (180Ω3 - 1200jΩ3)/(9Ω2 + 400Ω2)

= (180Ω3 - 1200jΩ3)/(409Ω2)

= 0.44Ω - 2.93Ωj Now (0.44Ω - 2.93Ωj) is in series with 5ΩSo with voltage division:

VTh = 20∠0 *(0.44 - 2.93j)/(5.44 - 2.93j)

In polar form:

VTh = 20∠0 *(2.96∠-81.4)/(6.18∠-28.3)

VTh = 9.57∠-53.1 degSo with this and RTh connected to the load, would the current then be I=V/R, and assuming the load is almost the same as Rth with the imaginary component negated and them both combined now:= (9.57∠-53.1)/(5.76Ω + 1.68Ωj + 5.76Ω - 1.68Ωj),

(Which would then be)

= (9.57∠-53.1)/(11.76∠0)

= (0.81∠-53.1)A ?

How would the complex conjugate be applied to this now?
 
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  • #4
Your approach to finding the Thevenin voltage doesn't make sense to me. You want to find the open circuit potential at terminals a-b, yet your first step seems to "disappear" terminals a and b by incorporating the capacitor's impedance with the inductor's.

One approach to finding the Thevenin equivalent for this sort of layout, which I find useful, is to work from the source forward to the open terminals incorporating the components successively into a Thevenin model. So begin with just the voltage divider presented by the source and two resistors.

Here's a diagram where the first step has been completed:

attachment.php?attachmentid=59698&stc=1&d=1371641085.gif
 

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  • #5
Now I'm kind of confused. I thought you were supposed to disappear / cut out the load to find VTh? I guess I still have trouble understanding it (or for whatever this case is). Or maybe I just took the voltage divider for the wrong thing? The voltage division above was for the j3, 20, and -j6 simplified together (with the load cut out).

I take it though that a-b only just meant across the -j6 then? If so (and assuming the work itself still isn't wrong) I think I could still find it since I think I still found the Vin for all of that to be

9.57∠-53.1 deg

with the voltage divider

so then I think

= 9.57∠-53.1°*(-6j / -6j + 3j)

= 9.57∠-53.1°*(-6j/-3j)

= 9.57∠-53.1°*(6∠-90° /3∠-90°)

=9.57∠-53.1°*(2∠0°)=(19.14∠-53.1°)V ? Or still all wrong?
 
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  • #6
Color_of_Cyan said:
Now I'm kind of confused. I thought you were supposed to disappear / cut out the load to find VTh? I guess I still have trouble understanding it (or for whatever this case is).
Yes, remove the load but don't "lose" the connection points for the load -- you want to find the voltage at those open connection points.
Or maybe I just took the voltage divider for the wrong thing?
Could be.
The voltage division above was for the j3, 20, and -j6 simplified together (with the load cut out).

I take it though that a-b only just meant across the -j6 then?
Yes.
If so (and assuming the work itself still isn't wrong) I think I could still find it since I think I still found the Vin for all of that to be

9.57∠-53.1 deg

with the voltage divider
Still doesn't look right.

Let's try going step by step in the manner that I proposed.
What do you get for E1 and Z1 considering only the original source and the resistor divider? (looking towards the source from the point of view (1) ).
 
  • #7
Not sure what you mean, but I guess you simplify out the 20Ω somehow.

Can you switch the left there to a Norton equivalent and then back again to a Thevenin equivalent with a different voltage than before?
 
  • #8
Color_of_Cyan said:
Not sure what you mean, but I guess you simplify out the 20Ω somehow.

Can you switch the left there to a Norton equivalent and then back again to a Thevenin equivalent with a different voltage than before?

Norton and Thevenin models are always interchangeable. But really, why would you go to the trouble of finding the Norton equivalent first when you've got such a simple voltage divider?

attachment.php?attachmentid=59704&stc=1&d=1371658634.gif


What's the Thevenin equivalent of the above?
 

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  • #9
Color_of_Cyan said:
Now I'm kind of confused. I thought you were supposed to disappear / cut out the load to find VTh? I guess I still have trouble understanding it (or for whatever this case is).


Or maybe I just took the voltage divider for the wrong thing?


The voltage division above was for the j3, 20, and -j6 simplified together (with the load cut out).

I take it though that a-b only just meant across the -j6 then?


If so (and assuming the work itself still isn't wrong) I think I could still find it since I think I still found the Vin for all of that to be

9.57∠-53.1 deg This is the correct voltage at the junction of the 5Ω, 20Ω and j3Ω, although I get 9.6 rather than 9.57

with the voltage divider

so then I think

= 9.57∠-53.1°*(-6j / -6j + 3j)

= 9.57∠-53.1°*(-6j/-3j)

= 9.57∠-53.1°*(6∠-90° /3∠-90°)

=9.57∠-53.1°*(2∠0°)


=(19.14∠-53.1°)V ? Or still all wrong? This is the correct Vth, although, again, I get 19.20 rather than 19.14

So far, so good.
 
  • #10
gneill said:
Norton and Thevenin models are always interchangeable. But really, why would you go to the trouble of finding the Norton equivalent first when you've got such a simple voltage divider?

attachment.php?attachmentid=59704&stc=1&d=1371658634.gif


What's the Thevenin equivalent of the above?

Okay I see what you mean now; when finding VTh you can break them all up into other Thevenin models.RTh of only the 20 and 5 with the source is

(1/5 + 1/20)-1 = 4Ω

and then the VTh of that is

20*(20/25) = (16∠0°)V ?

Would the voltage division for the actual VTh of the problem then be

= (16∠0°)V*(-6jΩ/(4Ω + 3jΩ - 6jΩ) ?

= (16∠0°)V*(-6jΩ/(4Ω - 3jΩ)

= (16∠0°)V*(6∠-90°/5∠-36.8°)

= (19.2 ∠-53.2°)V ? Almost the same as I had originally.
 
  • #11
Color_of_Cyan said:
Okay I see what you mean now; when finding VTh you can break them all up into other Thevenin models.
Yup. That's the idea.
RTh of only the 20 and 5 with the source is

(1/5 + 1/20)-1 = 4Ω

and then the VTh of that is

20*(20/25) = (16∠0°)V ?
Yes.
Would the voltage division for the actual VTh of the problem then be

= (16∠0°)V*(-6jΩ/(4Ω + 3jΩ - 6jΩ) ?

= (16∠0°)V*(-6jΩ/(4Ω - 3jΩ)

= (16∠0°)V*(6∠-90°/5∠-36.8°)

= (19.2 ∠-53.2°)V ? Almost the same as I had originally.
Yup. That's right.
 
  • #12
So

RTh = 5.76Ω - 1.68jΩ

so ZL = 5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ

VTh = (19.2 ∠-53.2°)VAre all of the above connected in series now?If so the current I will be:

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(5.76Ω - 1.68jΩ + 5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(11.52Ω)

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(11.52Ω ∠0°)

I = (1.69∠-53.2°)A
gneill said:
find the current I through the load, then find the complex power delivered as ##P = I \cdot I^*\cdot Z_L##, where I* is the complex conjugate of I. The average power is the real component of the complex power.

Would I have to convert the current back to rectangular form? Or is there a way to bypass that and multiply I with I* in polar form? Would the conjugate of the current just be (1.69∠53.2)A?
 
  • #13
Color_of_Cyan said:
So

RTh = 5.76Ω - 1.68jΩ

so ZL = 5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ

VTh = (19.2 ∠-53.2°)V


Are all of the above connected in series now?
Yes they are. They form a classic voltage divider with an ideal source, a source impedance, and a load impedance.
If so the current I will be:

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(5.76Ω - 1.68jΩ + 5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(11.52Ω)

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(11.52Ω ∠0°)

I = (1.69∠-53.2°)A
Okay, that looks pretty good. You might want to remember to hang onto more digits of precision through intermediate steps (round only results for presentation). This is especially true when there are a lot of steps involved, like switching back and forth from rectangular to polar form. The third digit for the magnitude and angle are both off a tad.
Would I have to convert the current back to rectangular form? Or is there a way to bypass that and multiply I with I* in polar form? Would the conjugate of the current just be (1.69∠53.2)A?
Sure. Think about what happens to a phasor on the complex plane when you form the conjugate; since only the imaginary coordinate is negated the phasor is reflected about the real axis. This is
exactly the same as negating the angle in polar form.
 
  • #14
Okay so

P = (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2)A*(5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)If I'm just finding average power though can you just say

Pavg = (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2)A*(5.76Ω), because the 5.76Ω is the real resistance?

So Pavg = 19.4W (or approximately) ?
 
  • #15
Color_of_Cyan said:
Okay so

P = (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2)A*(5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)
Okay.
If I'm just finding average power though can you just say

Pavg = (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2)A*(5.76Ω), because the 5.76Ω is the real resistance?

So Pavg = 19.4W (or approximately) ?

The imaginary parts of all the expression "interact" with the real ones, so you should carry out the full calculation (convert the load impedance to polar form for convenience). The average power will then be the magnitude of the result multiplied by the cosine of the result's angle (that is, the real component of the complex power). Or, if you do the calculation in rectangular form, just pick out the real part of the result for the real (average) power delivered.
 
  • #16
Ah, thank you so much for that.

= (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2)A*(5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)

= (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2°)A*(6∠16.2°)Ω

P = 17.1366∠16.2°

r = (mag)cosθ

Pavg = 17.1366cos16.2

Pavg = 16.45WThanks again
 
  • #17
You need to follow gneill's advice to carry more digits in your computations.

The correct answer is exactly 16 watts.
 
  • #18
Is there any chance I can know where the error in significant figures is?I just did the whole problem over again and got the exact same answer, the only thing I got different was rounding off the angle for the current, so it was 53.13 instead of 53.2 but I would just cancel that out.
 
  • #19
Color_of_Cyan said:
Is there any chance I can know where the error in significant figures is?


I just did the whole problem over again and got the exact same answer, the only thing I got different was rounding off the angle for the current, so it was 53.13 instead of 53.2 but I would just cancel that out.

In post #12, you have:

"If so the current I will be:

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(5.76Ω - 1.68jΩ + 5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(11.52Ω)

=(19.2 ∠-53.2°)V/(11.52Ω ∠0°)

I = (1.69∠-53.2°)A"

That final result should be I = (1.66667∠-53.13010°)A because 19.2/11.52 is 1.66667, not 1.69, and the angle is slightly different.



Then in post #16, you have:

"Ah, thank you so much for that.

= (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2)A*(5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)

= (1.69∠-53.2°)A*(1.69∠53.2°)A*(6∠16.2°)Ω

P = 17.1366∠16.2°

r = (mag)cosθ

Pavg = 17.1366cos16.2

Pavg = 16.45W"


This should be:

Ah, thank you so much for that.

=(1.66667∠-53.13010°)A*(1.66667∠53.13010°)A*(5.76Ω + 1.68jΩ)

= (1.66667∠-53.13010°)A*(1.66667∠53.13010°)A*(6∠16.26020°)Ω

P = 16.66667∠16.26020°

r = (mag)cosθ

Pavg = 16.66667cos16.26020°

Pavg = 16.00W
 
  • #20
Thanks again. That's not rounding error but dumb mistakes I keep on making ;/
 

1. What is impedance and how does it affect power transfer in a circuit?

Impedance is a measure of the opposition to the flow of electrical current in a circuit. It includes both resistance and reactance, which is the opposition caused by inductance and capacitance. In order to maximize power transfer in a circuit, the impedance of the load (ZL) must match the impedance of the source (ZS). If the impedances are not matched, some of the power will be reflected back and not transferred to the load.

2. How do you calculate the impedance of a load in a circuit?

The impedance of a load (ZL) in a circuit can be calculated using the formula ZL = R + jX, where R is the resistance and jX is the reactance. The reactance is calculated based on the type of load (capacitive or inductive) and the frequency of the current in the circuit. Additionally, the impedance of a load can also be measured using an impedance meter.

3. What is the concept of maximum average power transfer and why is it important?

The concept of maximum average power transfer is the idea that the maximum amount of power will be transferred from a source to a load when the impedance of the load matches the impedance of the source. This is important because it ensures that the circuit is operating at its most efficient state and that no power is wasted due to mismatched impedances.

4. How do you determine the maximum average power transfer point in a circuit?

The maximum average power transfer point in a circuit can be determined by finding the point where the load impedance (ZL) is equal to the conjugate of the source impedance (ZS). This can be found by calculating the complex conjugate of ZS and setting it equal to ZL. Solving this equation will give the impedance value that maximizes power transfer in the circuit.

5. Can the maximum average power transfer be achieved in any circuit?

No, the maximum average power transfer can only be achieved in a circuit when the load impedance (ZL) matches the source impedance (ZS). In some cases, it may not be possible to match these impedances, and therefore the maximum average power transfer cannot be achieved. However, the closer the impedances are matched, the more power will be transferred to the load.

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