How to Easily Find Equivalent Impedance for AC Circuits

The likewise equivalent resistance of dc circuit, we also need equivalent impedance for ac circuit. This is a crucial thing for analyzing electric circuit.

From its name, equivalent impedance means a single impedance of multiple elements without affecting other elements such as voltage and current source.

Equivalent impedance is essential for analyzing the ac circuit.
 
Make sure to read what is ac circuit first.

Equivalent Impedance for AC Circuits

Consider the N series-connected impedance shown in Figure.(1). The same current I flows through the impedances. Applying KVL around the loop gives

Equivalent Impedance
(1)
Equivalent Impedance
Figure 1. N impedances in series

The equivalent impedance at the input terminals is

Equivalent Impedance
(2)

showing that the total or equivalent impedance of series-connected impedances is the sum of the individual impedances. This is similar to the series connection of resistances.

If N = 2, as shown in Figure.(2), the current through the impedances is

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 2. Voltage division
Equivalent Impedance
(3)

Since V1 = Z1I and V2 = Z2I, then

Equivalent Impedance
(4)

which is the voltage-division relationship.

In the same manner, we can get the equivalent impedance and admittance of the N parallel-connected impedances as can be seen in Figure.(3).

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 3. N impedances in parallel

The voltage across each impedance is the same. Applying KCL at the top node,

Equivalent Impedance
(5)

The equivalent impedance is

Equivalent Impedance
(6)

and the equivalent admittance is

Equivalent Impedance
(7)

This indicates that the equivalent admittance of a parallel connection of admittances is the sum of the individual admittances.

When N = 2, as drawn in Figure.(4),

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 4. Current division

the equivalent impedance becomes

Equivalent Impedance
(8)

Also, since VZeqI = I1Z1 = I2Z2

the currents in the impedances are

Equivalent Impedance
(9)

which is the current-division principle.

The delta-to-wye and wye-to-delta transformations that we applied to resistive circuits are also valid for impedances. With reference to Figure.(5), the conversion formulas are as follows.

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 5. Superimposed Y and delta networks

Wye-delta conversion :

Equivalent Impedance
(10)

Delta-wye conversion :

Equivalent Impedance
(11)

A delta or wye circuit is said to be balanced if it has equal impedances in all three branches.

When a delta-wye circuit is balanced, Equations.(10) and (11) become

Equivalent Impedance
(12)

where ZY = Z1 = Z2 = Z3 and ZΔ = Za = Zb = Zc.

As you can see in this post, the principles of voltage division, current division, circuit reduction, impedance equivalence, and wye-delta transformation all apply to ac circuits. In the next post, we will cover another technique for ac circuits such as :

  • Superposition
  • Nodal analysis
  • Mesh analysis
  • Source transformation
  • Thevenin theorem
  • Norton theorem.

The application of sinusoidal circuit and impedance formula results in phase shifter and ac bridge.

Read also : superposition theorem

Equivalent Impedance for AC Circuits Examples

For better understanding let us review examples below :

1. Find the input impedance of the circuit in Figure.(6). Assume that the circuit operates at ω = 50 rad/s.

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 6

Solution :

Let
Z1 = Impedance of the 2 mF capacitor
Z2 = Impedance of the 3 Ω resistor in series with the 10 mF capacitor
Z3 = Impedance of the 0.2 H inductor in series with 8 Ω resistor

Then

Equivalent Impedance

The input impedance is

Equivalent Impedance

Hence,

Equivalent Impedance
 

2. Determine vo(t) in the circuit of Figure.(7)

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 7

Solution :

To do analysis in the frequency domain, we must first transform the domain circuit in Figure.(7) to the phasor domain equivalent in Figure.(8). The transformation produces

Equivalent Impedance

Let

Z1 = Impedance of the 60 Ω resistor

Z2 = Impedance of the parallel combination of the 10 mF capacitor and 5 H inductor.

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 8

Then Z1 = 60 Ω and

Equivalent Impedance

By the voltage-division principle,

Equivalent Impedance

We convert this to the time domain and get

Equivalent Impedance
 

3. Find current I in the circuit of Figure.(9).

Equivalent Impedance
Figure 9

Solution :

The delta network connected to nodes a, b, and c can be converted to the Y network of Figure.(10). We obtain the Y impedances as follows using Equation.(11) :

Equivalent Impedance

The total impedance at the source terminals is

Equivalent Impedance

The desired current is

Equivalent Impedance

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