Will an infinite impedance cause no phase shift?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of infinite impedance in the context of a Hartley oscillator circuit. Participants explore the implications of infinite impedance on phase shift, the physical meaning of such impedance, and the conditions under which it occurs. The conversation includes technical details related to circuit configurations and feedback mechanisms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) expresses discomfort with the idea that theoretically infinite impedance causes no phase shift and questions why current flow is necessary for phase shifting.
  • One participant asks about the physical meaning of infinite impedance and what conditions lead to increased impedance.
  • Another participant mentions coupling between inductors L1 and L2 in the Hartley oscillator.
  • A different participant provides a detailed method for determining oscillation frequency, emphasizing the role of an additional resistor and the conditions for achieving a specific phase shift.
  • One participant clarifies that the Hartley oscillator requires selectivity in the feedback loop for predictable frequency, attributing phase responsibility to the transformer.
  • A later reply critiques the technical discussions as not addressing the OP's question adequately, suggesting that the conversation has diverged from the original inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of infinite impedance regarding phase shift. There are multiple competing views on the operation of the Hartley oscillator and the relevance of the technical details discussed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express concern that the discussion has become overly technical and may not be accessible to the OP, who seeks clarification on a specific aspect of the oscillator's behavior.

kostoglotov
Messages
231
Reaction score
6

Homework Statement



0Zc8nQe.png


imgur link: http://i.imgur.com/0Zc8nQe.png

Homework Equations



Y-Delta transformations

Star%2Bto%2BDelta%2Band%2BDelta%2Bto%2BStar%2BTransformation.png


The Attempt at a Solution



Since it's a proof, I can't check the answer in the back.

What I did: I transformed the three impedances in their delta config to a Y config, and my TI89 told me that the only impedance in the Y config that caused a phase shift (by virtue of the entire impedance value being imaginary), was that single impedance connecting down to common ground from in between the other two.

The calcs wound up as

Z_1 = \frac{CL_1L_2\omega^3j}{C(L_1+L_2)\omega^2-1}
Z_2 = \frac{CL_2L_1^2\omega^4}{(C(L_1+L_2)\omega^2-1)^2}
Z_3 = \frac{CL_2^2L_1\omega^4}{(C(L_1+L_2)\omega^2-1)^2}

Z1 being the one that connects to ground from in between 2 and 3 which are in the op-amp loop.

Making Z1 go to infinity by making it's denominator go to zero when the frequency is the fundamental frequency, gets us the equation we need to prove.

I'm fine with the mathematical reasoning.

I just don't feel comfortable with the idea that this theoretically infinite impedance is causing no phase shift? Why does current have to flow through a component in order to be phase shifted?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What is the physical meaning of infinite impedence in this case? What has to happen for the impedence to get bigger?
 
In the Hartley there is some coupling between L1 and L2.
 
kostoglotov - in case you are still interested in finding the oscillation frequency, here is what you must do:

1.) Insert an additional resistor R0 between the opamp output and the rest of the feedback network. This is necessary - otherwise the inductor L1 has no meanning and no influence - and the circuit does not oscillate.

2.) Determine the feedback function HF(s) including the resistor Ri (which can be considered to be grounded - due to the virtual ground principle for the inverting opamp)
The result will be:
HF(s)=numerator/denomionator=N(s)/D(s) with
N(s)=(C L1 L2 Ri) s^3
and
D(s)=R0 Ri + ( L2 R0 + L1 Ri) s + (C L2 R0 Ri + C L1 R0 Ri + L1 L2)s^2 + (C L1 L2 Ri + C L1 L2 R0) s^3.

3.) After setting s=jω we have a complex function - and we need the frequency where the phase shift is -180deg (because the inverter will contribute another 180 deg).
That means: The imag. part of the transfer function HF must be ZERO (the result must ne negative-real).
Because the numerator N(jw) always is imaginary, we require that the denominator also must be imaginary at the desired frequency.
Hence, we are setting the real part of the denominator equal to zero: Re[D(jw)]=0.
Solving this equation, we get the oscillation frequency.

4.) Proof: If the resistor Ri is very large (infinite), the resulting oscillation frequency will be as given in the task description (post#1).
Note that this expression for the oscillation frequency is an approximation only because it may be applied for Ri⇒infinite only!
 
Last edited:
There seems to be some misunderstanding on how the Hartley works. It needs some selectivity in the loop so that the frequency is predictable, but phasing is the responsibility of the transformer. With the centre-tap earthed, the second winding on the autotransformer provides the required 180° phase shift. The turns ratio can make up for losses and restore loop gain to a little over unity.
 
The homework help at Physics Forums usually works well, but sadly this thread has not. Despite a storm of technical talk, the responses have contributed nothing that addresses the OP's question on his level. Here's a reminder of what is being asked:
I just don't feel comfortable with the idea that this theoretically infinite impedance is causing no phase shift? Why does current have to flow through a component in order to be phase shifted?

From the formula given for the oscillation frequency it is clear that only the general principle of operation is under discussion, nothing more complicated than resonance in one of the feedback loops. A treatise on oscillator minutiae is not called for, nor do we need drawn-out debate on what this configuration should or should not be named; all this is off-topic and off-putting, and doing nothing to assist the struggling student with his question. In fact, quite the contrary: when a simple question starts a bunfight the first one to flee is often he who asked the question.

Ralph Hartley was around for over 50 years while the Hartley Oscillator with its tapped coil was popular among radio hobbyists, so he had ample opportunity to disassociate himself and his name from the oscillator in that form if he objected to the association, and he clearly did not. So decades after his death he doesn't need anyone to go into bat on his behalf now.

Regrettably, it looks like OP has long ago departed the discussion, and none the wiser for his asking.
 

Similar threads

Replies
30
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
9K