AC circuit analysis -- mesh and nodal

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
187 replies · 60K views
The Electrician said:
Read post #5
Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
gneill said:
Leave ##V_3## as ##V_3## for now! That way you don't have to carry around any complex digits through the initial simplifications. Don't be in a hurry to plug in numbers, especially complex numbers; That just gives more opportunities to make transcription and sign errors, and makes it more difficult to spot mistakes in the workings.

You should then have:

##\frac{V_1 - V_{20}}{Z_1} + \frac{-V_{20}}{Z_4} + \frac{-(V_{20} - V_3)}{Z_5} + \frac{V_2 - (V_{20} - V_3)}{Z_3} = 0##

which becomes, after distributing the signs:

##\frac{V_1 - V_{20}}{Z_1} - \frac{V_{20}}{Z_4} + \frac{V_3 - V_{20}}{Z_5} + \frac{V_2 - V_{20} + V_3}{Z_3} = 0##

Can you carry on from there to isolate ##V_{20}##? You should be able to reach a point where you have something like:

##V_{20}[## some terms ##] + [## more terms ##] = 0##

Then you can work on reducing the "some terms" and "more terms" down to individual complex numbers, since then all the variables in them will be known values.

Some sign errors snuck in. So no, not so good :frown:

In the first expression isn't the last part supposed to be (V4 - V3) / Z3 . How do we lose V4 to only end up with V2 and V3
 
MrBondx said:
In the first expression isn't the last part supposed to be (V4 - V3) / Z3 . How do we lose V4 to only end up with V2 and V3

Ok am sorted v4 is same as v2, just made sense
 
MrBondx said:
In the first expression isn't the last part supposed to be (V4 - V3) / Z3 . How do we lose V4 to only end up with V2 and V3
I don't recall any V4 being defined. There was a V40, which was at the junction of Z3 and V2. As such, V40 is dropped in favor of using V2 which has a given value. There was also a voltage V30 defined to be the potential of the node at the top of Z5. But thanks to the supernode, it is replaced with V20 - V3.

Fig1.gif
 
MrBondx said:
Ok am sorted v4 is same as v2, just made sense
Hah! I guess I took too long preparing my post :smile:
 
gneill said:
I don't recall any V4 being defined. There was a V40, which was at the junction of Z3 and V2. As such, V40 is dropped in favor of using V2 which has a given value. There was also a voltage V30 defined to be the potential of the node at the top of Z5. But thanks to the supernode, it is replaced with V20 - V3.

View attachment 84374

Thanks gneill by V4 I meant V40 will correct that.
 
gneill said:
Hah! I guess I took too long preparing my post :smile:
MrBondx said:
In the first expression isn't the last part supposed to be (V4 - V3) / Z3 . How do we lose V4 to only end up with V2 and V3

I'm coming up with

60 + j30 = V20(0.75 + j0.05)

V20 = 76.99 + j45.13

I = V20 / Z4

= (76.99 + j45.13) / -j5

= j15.398 - 9.026

if I compare to part a my j value seems off, where am I going wrong?
 
MrBondx said:
I'm coming up with

60 + j30 = V20(0.75 + j0.05)

V20 = 76.99 + j45.13

I = V20 / Z4

= (76.99 + j45.13) / -j5

= j15.398 - 9.026

if I compare to part a my j value seems off, where am I going wrong?

Your 60 + j30 should be 67.07 + j30 - you're missing a V3 / Z5 and a V3 / Z3.
 
Gremlin said:
Your 60 + j30 should be 67.07 + j30 - you're missing a V3 / Z5 and a V3 / Z3.
Gremlin said:
Your 60 + j30 should be 67.07 + j30 - you're missing a V3 / Z5 and a V3 / Z3.

It was a sign error in my calculation, that was helpful thanks.

Finally done with this question, thanks yall
 
Hi I am stuck on part a of this question:

the 3 mesh equations i have are:

Mesh1:
2I1-j5I1+j5I2=120
Mesh2:
j5I1-j1I2-j4I3=-14.14+14.14
Mesh:3
-j4I2+4I3+j4I3=-120

I have tried to use the matrix spread sheet to find I1,I2 & I3. But my answers seem well out.

9.11E+00+j1.23E+01
4.18E+00-j8.04E+00
-8.89E+00-j1.69E+01

Any help would be much appreciated.
 
Last edited:
ProfNut said:
Hi I am stuck on part a of this question:

the 3 mesh equations i have are:

Mesh1:
2I1-j5I1+j5I2=120
Mesh2:
j5I1-j1I2-j4I3=-14.14+14.14
Mesh:3
-j4I2+4I3+j4I3=-120

I have tried to use the matrix spread sheet to find I1,I2 & I3. But my answers seem well out.

9.11E+00+j1.23E+01
4.18E+00-j8.04E+00
-8.89E+00-j1.69E+01

Any help would be much appreciated.
what is the matrix spreadsheet??
can you show us what you input to the matrix
 
Verify the signs and magnitudes for the circled entries.
Fig1.gif
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ProfNut
copy that,Thank you for your help.I will try to do as you said.thank you.
 
Thanks got it. Now to the Nodal analysis!
 
im struggling abit with the nodal analysis. i think i have simplified the equation appropriately.

Equation with substitution for v30: ( v10 - v20/ z1)) + ( v20/ z4) + ( v20 - v3 / z5) + (v2 - v20 + v3/ z3) = 0

i have split the fractions to start isolating v20(v1 / z1) - (v20 / z1) + (v20/z4) + (v20/z5) - (v3/z5) - (v3/z5) + (v2/z3) - (v20/z3) + (v3/z3) = 0

So

v20( -(1/z1) + (1/z4) + (1/z5) - (1/z3) ) + (v1/z1) - (v3/z5) + (v2/z3) + (v3/z3) = 0

v20( -(1/2) + (1/-5j ) + (1/4j ) - (1/4) ) + (120/2) - (14.14 + 14.14j /4j) + (120j /4) + (14.14 + 14.14j /4) = 0

v20( - 0.5 + 0.2j + 0.25j - 0.25) + ( 60 - ( 3.535 - 3.535j) + (30j) + (3.535 + 3.535i) = 0

v20( - 0.5 + 0.2j + 0.25j - 0.25) + ( 60 - 3.535 + 3.535j + 30j + 3.535 + 3.535i = 0

am i going the right way about this? The double negatives in the mesh analysis started to boil my head so thought finding the nodal analysis would be more simple, and then i could compare the two answers for the current through z4.
 
Last edited:
brabbit87 said:
im struggling abit with the nodal analysis. i think i have simplified the equation appropriately.

Equation with substitution for v30: ( v10 - v20/ z1)) + ( v20/ z4) + ( v20 - v3 / z5) + (v2 - v20 + v3/ z3) = 0
It looks to me like you're mixing current directions. You want to either sum all currents flowing into the node, or all currents flowing out of the node, and set the result to zero. Don't mix directions.

For example, your first term: ( v10 - v20/ z1)) {which I assume to mean ( (v10 - v20)/ z1)): watch your parentheses to group operations appropriately!} represents a current flowing into the supernode at V20 through impedance Z1. But your second term, ( v20/ z4), represents a current flowing OUT of the supernode via Z4.

Check each of your terms and assure that they all represent currents flowing in the same manner, either into or out of the supernode, and not both.
 
gneill said:
It looks to me like you're mixing current directions. You want to either sum all currents flowing into the node, or all currents flowing out of the node, and set the result to zero. Don't mix directions.

For example, your first term: ( v10 - v20/ z1)) {which I assume to mean ( (v10 - v20)/ z1)): watch your parentheses to group operations appropriately!} represents a current flowing into the supernode at V20 through impedance Z1. But your second term, ( v20/ z4), represents a current flowing OUT of the supernode via Z4.

Check each of your terms and assure that they all represent currents flowing in the same manner, either into or out of the supernode, and not both.
Thankou. Maybe being abit too careless. Will make another attempt.
 
All finished nodal analysis and answer is correct. Had another attempt at the mesh analysis, unfortunately the matrix spreadsheet will not calculate I1,2,3. I am lost here, i have repeated the same 3 equations.

KVL walk clockwise around the 3 loops

Mesh 1 -

v1 - (z1)i1 - (z4)(i1 - i2) = 0
v1 = (z1)i1 + (z4)(i1 - i2)
v1 = (2)i1 + (-5j)i1 + (5j)i2

120 = (2 - 5j)i1 + (5j)i2 ....(1)

mesh 2 -

-v3 + (z5)(i2 - i3) + z4(i2 - i1) = 0
v3 = (4j)i2 - (4j)i3 (-5j)i2 + (5j)i1
v3 = (5j)i1 + (4j - 5j)i2 (-4j)i3
14.14 + 14.14j = (5j)i1 + (-1j)i2 + (-4j)i3 ...(2)

Mesh 3 -

-v2 + z5(i3 - i2) + z3(i3)
v2 = + (-4j)i2 + (4 + 4j)i3
120j = (-4j)i2 + (4 + 4j)i3
...(3)
 

Attachments

  • TMAmeshresults.png
    TMAmeshresults.png
    41.9 KB · Views: 816
Check the sign of v3 in your mesh 2 equation. You appear to be writing a sum of potential drops, so...
 
gneill said:
Check the sign of v3 in your mesh 2 equation. You appear to be writing a sum of potential drops, so...
I'm not so sure. What is wrong with v3 in my mesh 2 equation.

Assuming clockwise current of circuit. It would be a negative voltage with positive voltage drops across the impedances?
 
brabbit87 said:
I'm not so sure. What is wrong with v3 in my mesh 2 equation.

Assuming clockwise current of circuit. It would be a negative voltage with positive voltage drops across the impedances?
you need to define which way your currents go...
 
donpacino said:
you need to define which way your currents go...
I have defined which way my current goes in each mesh, clockwise. Or are referring to something else. I may have possibly missed?

Apologies if i am being stupid with something
 
brabbit87 said:
I have defined which way my current goes in each mesh, clockwise. Or are referring to something else. I may have possibly missed?

Apologies if i am being stupid with something
np. I just did not know... if that is the case then one of the Z terms in your mesh equations has the wrong sign...
 
gneill said:
Check the sign of v3 in your mesh 2 equation. You appear to be writing a sum of potential drops, so...
I apologise gneill, however i am still unsure.

Is it just the 2nd mesh equation that i have incorrectly done?
 
brabbit87 said:
I apologise gneill, however i am still unsure.

Is it just the 2nd mesh equation that i have incorrectly done?
yes
 
donpacino said:
yes
My initial equation for the mesh 2, is that correct?

Regards
 
brabbit87 said:
My initial equation for the mesh 2, is that correct?

Regards
wow... your equation for mesh two is not correct.
are you probing for someone to do just your work for you?
you have been told multiple times that there is a problem with your equation for mesh 2. Its hard to be more clear.
 
donpacino said:
wow... your equation for mesh two is not correct.
are you probing for someone to do just your work for you?
you have been told multiple times that there is a problem with your equation for mesh 2. Its hard to be more clear.

No, really. I am genuinely not looking for that. I am just struggling with this question.
 
If you do a KVL "walk" around the second loop in a clockwise fashion, does v3 cause a potential rise or a potential drop?