Appendix G

MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER CONDITIONS

Derivation of maximum power transfer conditions for the situation

where the resistive component of the load is adjustable but the load
reactance is set in magnitude.*
For the circuit of Fig. G.1, the power delivered to the load is deter-
mined by
V R2
P  L
RL

ZTh
I
XTh I
RTh
+ RL ZL
ZT
ETh

– XL

FIG. G.1

Applying the voltage divider rule:

RLETh
VRL  
RL  RTh  XTh
90°  XL
90°
The magnitude of VRL is determined by
RLETh
VRL  

(R
L 
R
Th
)2
(
X
Th
X
L )
2

R 2L E Th
2
and V R2L  
(RL  RTh )2  (XTh  XL )2

VR2L 2
RL ETh
with P    
RL (RL  RTh)2  (XTh  XL)2
Using differentiation (calculus), maximum power will be transferred
when dP/dRL  0. The result of the preceding operation is that
RL  R
Th

2
(X

Th
XL)2 [Eq. (18.21)]
The magnitude of the total impedance of the circuit is
ZT  (R
Th
R
L )
2
(X

Th
X
L )
2

Substituting this equation for RL and applying a few algebraic

maneuvers will result in
ZT  2RL(RL  RTh)

*With sincerest thanks for the input of Professor Harry J. Franz of the Beaver Campus of
Pennsylvania State University.

1209
1210  APPENDIXES

and the power to the load RL will be

2 2
E Th E Th RL
P  I 2RL   RL  
ZT 2
2RL(RL  RTh)
E 2Th
 
RL  RTh


4 
2 
2
E Th

4Rav
RL  RTh
with Rav  
2