How Do You Calculate AC Waveform Components and Errors?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating components of an AC voltage waveform, specifically involving harmonics and their contributions to the overall waveform. Participants explore the mathematical expressions for the waveform, sketching the harmonic components, and determining instantaneous voltage and percentage error at a specific time. The scope includes theoretical calculations and homework-related queries.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Participants discuss the expression for the voltage waveform, with one participant proposing a formula that includes the fundamental and harmonic components.
  • There is a suggestion to plot the waveforms of the 3rd and 5th harmonics, with varying opinions on the appropriate time period for the sketch.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the phase angle for the 3rd harmonic and its implications on calculations.
  • Calculations for the instantaneous voltage at 20ms are presented, with participants verifying each other's results and discussing the correctness of their approaches.
  • There is a debate regarding the calculation of percentage error, with differing opinions on whether to use RMS or instantaneous values for comparison.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of using the correct denominator when calculating percentage error, leading to a refinement of the error calculation method.
  • Participants question the necessity of converting to peak values and discuss the implications of using RMS values in their calculations.
  • There are multiple attempts to clarify the calculations for the actual and ideal waveforms at 20ms, with some participants expressing confusion over their results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to calculate the waveform components and the importance of accuracy in their calculations. However, there are multiple competing views regarding the correct approach to calculating percentage error and the use of RMS versus instantaneous values, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some calculations depend on assumptions about phase angles and whether to convert to peak values. There are unresolved mathematical steps regarding the correct method for calculating percentage error, and participants express uncertainty about the time intervals used for plotting waveforms.

  • #61
I see your point now I think
 
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  • #62
gneill said:
The RMS conversion for a sinusoid is just a scale factor. The function of time using the RMS instead of peak for the constants will be a scaled version of the actual voltage waveform. One can always multiply results by √2 to obtain the actual voltage. It's just that the numbers are a bit easier to work with when they're nice multiples of ten :smile:
The root 2 needs to trail along. It doesn't make sense to speak of a waveform having an instantaneous value of .. RMS. Whether neater or not!
 
  • #63
NascentOxygen said:
The root 2 needs to trail along. It doesn't make sense to speak of a waveform having an instantaneous value of .. RMS. Whether neater or not!

I agree that the √2 needs to be there if you need the actual instantaneous voltage values. It can be applied to the result values as required. To answer part (i) of the question you'd want to include it, perhaps as a factored value as I showed it in post #42. But I maintain that for the % error calculation it makes no difference. In fact the function could be written as

f(t) = 10sin(ωt) + 2sin(3ωt) + sin(5ωt + 1.21)

for that analysis.
 
  • #64
Can I ask, what program do you guys use to plot the graphs with?
 
  • #65
Ebies said:
Can I ask, what program do you guys use to plot the graphs with?

I use MathCad to plot general functions. If it's just a matter of sketching sinusoids I might use Visio to draw them (I made a stencil that includes sinusoidal pieces. They can be re-sized and stretched like any Visio object).
 
  • #66
For some reason i do not get the same values if i try to calculate the values of voltage for the fundamental wave, 3rd harmonic or 5th harmonic... For instance if i type 141.4sin(240pi*0.01) into my calculator i get 18.553 as an answer... When from previous posts i know it should be more... Also calculating the voltage at 20ms i get a different answer for each waveform thus giving me an overall incorrect answer... Any ideas...?
 
  • #67
Ebies said:
For some reason i do not get the same values if i try to calculate the values of voltage for the fundamental wave, 3rd harmonic or 5th harmonic... For instance if i type 141.4sin(240pi*0.01) into my calculator i get 18.553 as an answer... When from previous posts i know it should be more... Also calculating the voltage at 20ms i get a different answer for each waveform thus giving me an overall incorrect answer... Any ideas...?

Looks like you've got your calculator set for degrees rather than radians.
 
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  • #68
gneill said:
Looks like you've got your calculator set for degrees rather than radians.

Yip, yip seems you're right... Thanks, I am feeling a bit like an idiot right now...
 
  • #69
oxon88 said:
iv) Given an ideal V = 100V rms, what is the percentage error at 20ms

Does anyone have a confirmed answer for this question?
 
  • #70
grinder76 said:
Does anyone have a confirmed answer for this question?
Show us your own attempt. Helpers cannot simply provide answers to problems, but are more than willing to help you arrive at the correct solution by guiding your demonstrated efforts.
 
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  • #71
Sorted now thanks
 
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  • #72
I have these question as well and wanted to dig this thread up again.
As I need someone's help , Could some genius have a look at this for me please. I using the Excel spread sheet to generate this wave form graph. I'm wondering are these value looks alright?
I have using these expression for each:
for the fundamental = 141.4 Sin (240*Pi*t*)
3rd Harmonic = 28.3 Sin (720*Pi*t)
5th Harmonic = 14.1 Sin (1200*Pi*t - 1.2)

time(sec) Fundamental 3rd Harmonic 5th Harmonic
0 0 0 -13.17903268
0.001 96.79496078 21.80552477 7.65040339
0.002 141.1209794 -27.7987292 0.800419963
0.003 108.9505725 13.63362898 -8.945510095
0.004 17.72211923 10.41792484 13.67371942
0.005 -83.11283467 -26.91489941 -13.17903268
0.006 -138.8954173 23.89448029 7.65040339
0.007 -119.3879687 -3.54693051 0.800419963
0.008 -35.16475005 -19.3726831 -8.945510095
0.009 68.11996952 28.24415641 13.67371942
0.01 134.4793914 -16.63432264 -13.17903268

0.02 83.11283467 + 26.91489941 + (-13.17903268) = 96.85 V at 20 ms. ( for the question 5(iii) )

As the attach pdf. file for the graph, Are they look ok?
I have no idea how to merge them all in one graph.
 

Attachments

  • #73
gneill said:
Try just the first ms of the plot using time steps of 0.0001 second.

I think I got it to the shape as the post #9 as gneill suggested!
Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • #74
jaff90110 said:
I think I got it to the shape as the post #9 as gneill suggested!
Thank you.
For the 5th Harmonic don't forget to include the effect of the phase angle if you haven't done so already. i forgot!
 
  • #75
grinder76 said:
For the 5th Harmonic don't forget to include the effect of the phase angle if you haven't done so already. i forgot!
Hi Grinder76
Thank you for let me know that,
 

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