LAB02: Study RLC Circuit in Simulink

Objectives:
Background Knowledge Required:
1) Ohm’s Law;
2) Kirchhoff’s Law;
3) Familiar with electronic circuit components and symbols;
4) Basic electronic circuit analysis skills [Network Theorems (Optional)] ;
5) Familiar with Measurement tools and meters.

Theory:

What is Electronics?

The word electronics is derived from electron mechanics, which means to study the behavior of an electron under different
conditions of applied electric field. The branch of engineering in which the flow and control of electrons in vacuum or
semiconductor are studied is called electronics. Electronics can also be defined as the branch of engineering in which the
electronic devices and their utilization are studied. The motion of electrons through a conductor gives us electric current.
This electric current can be produced with the help of batteries and generators. The device which controls the flow of
electrons is called electronic device. These devices are the main building blocks of electronic circuits. Electronics have
various branches include, digital electronics, analog electronics, Power Electronics, micro-electronics, nano-electronics,
optoelectronics, integrated circuit and semiconductor device.

Power Electronics

Power Electronics is the study of switching electronic circuits in order to control the flow of electrical energy. Power
Electronics is the technology behind switching power supplies, power converters, power inverters, motor drives, and
motor soft starters.

Resistors:

Resistance can be defined as the voltage required for making a current of 1 ampere to flow through the circuit. If the
circuit requires 100 Volts to make 1 ampere flow, then the resistance is 100 Ohms.
Voltage, current relation with Resistance

V=I*R

Power, Current relation with Resistance

P = I2 * R = V * I = V2 /R

Uses of Resistors:

Though resistors can cause wastage of electricity, it has a lot of advantages and applications in our daily life.

• Resistance is one of the main ingredient in the working of a light bulb. When electricity passes through the filament
of the bulb, it burns bright as it turns extremely hot due to its smaller size. Though this mechanism wastes a lot of
electricity, we are forced to use it to obtain light. The light used nowadays are highly efficient than the older
incandescent lamps.
• The similar filament working is the main ingredient in the working of some of our usual household stuffs like
electric kettles, electric radiators, electric showers, coffee makers, toasters, and so on.
• The application of variable resistance is also helpful to us. Our TV’s, radios, loud speakers and so on work on this
principle.

Capacitors:

A capacitor is an electronic device that is used to store electrical energy. They are only used to store the electrons and
they are not capable of producing them.

Voltage, Charge and Capacitance relation

C = Q/V

Capacitor connected in series:

Capacitors C1 and C2 connected in series are shown in the figure below.

Capacitor series circuit

When the capacitors have a series connection the total voltage “V” from the battery is split into V1 and V2 across the
capacitors C1 and C2. The overall charge “Q” will be the charge of the total capacitance.
Voltage V = V1 + V2

As in any series circuit the current I is the same throughout

Therefore total capacitance of the circuit, Ctotal = Q/V = Q/(V1 + V2)

This can be further calculated as 1/Ctotal = 1/C1 + 1/C2

Thus, for a circuit having “n” number of capacitors in series

1/Ctotal = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 + …… + 1/Cn

Capacitor connected in parallel:

As shown in the figure, two capacitorsC1 and C2 are kept in parallel. The voltage across both the capacitors will be the
same, “V”. The charge in the capacitor C1 is Q1 and the charge in capacitor C2 is Q2. Thus we can write the equations as

C1 = Q1/V and

C2 = Q2/V
Total Capacitance, Ctotal = (Q1+Q2)/V = Q1/V + Q2/V = C1 + C2

If there are “n” capacitors kept in parallel, then total capacitance can be written as

Ctotal = C1 + C2 + C3 + … + Cn
Capacitor parallel circuit

Advantages

• Since the capacitor can discharge in a fraction of a second, it has a very large advantage. Capacitors are used for
appliances which require high speed use like in camera flash and laser techniques.
• Capacitors are used to remove ripples by removing the peaks and filling in the valleys.
• A capacitor allows ac voltage to pass through and blocks dc voltage. This has been used in many electronic
applications.

Inductor:

An Inductor, also known as a reactor is simply a coil of wire, which has many electrical properties when subjected to a
magnetic field. When an electric current is passed through it, a magnetic field is created. This magnetic field helps to store
the electric current for a short time, even if the supply is removed. When the magnetic field around the coil collapses, the
electric current also falls off. Actually, the inductor basics are based on the Faradays Laws of Induction.

Inductance in series

Inductance in Parallel

Stored Energy
RLC Circuit Analysis:
RLC Circuit Simulation:
RLC Circuit in Series:
R = 100 Ohm

R = 0.1 Ohm
L = 1mH

RLC Circuit in Parallel:

R = 1000 Ohm
R = 1 Ohm
R1 = 10000 Ohm; R = 100 Ohm

R1 = 0.001 Ohm; R = 100 Ohm

L = 1mH

RLC Series AC Circuit:

Study on effect L, C, & R for both series and parallel circuit by using AC & DC supply. In series, most of the
voltage dropped against C and in parallel, majority current drawn by L.

References:
• Ohm’s Law : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm%27s_law
• Kirchhoff’s Law : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirchhoff%27s_circuit_laws
• Network Theorems : https://www.elprocus.com/basics-of-network-theorems-in-electrical-engineering/