Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit

Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit

• Capacitive reactance is the opposition offered by a
capacitor or when an ac current flow through a
capacitor.

• The rate at which the voltage changes is determined by

the frequency of the supply.

• Therefore, if either of the frequency or the capacitance

of a given circuit is increased, the current flow
increases.
 Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit

• Capacitance
  reactance, Xcis measured in ohms, as are
resistance and inductive reactance, and further given
by

Xc = -jΩ

Where f = frequency, Hz
C = capacitance, F (farads).
 Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit
•• The
  current flowing in a circuit containing only
capacitive reactance is

where I = rms current (leading)

V = rms voltage,
= capacitive reactance (Ω).
 Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit
Example

An 8μF capacitor is connected to a 240 V, 50 Hz circuit

show in Fig. Find
(a) the capacitive reactance,
(b) the current flowing, and
(c) draw the phasor diagram.
 Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit

Solution
• (a) Xc = - j = - j = - j 398 Ω
•  
• = 0.603

(b)

(c) The phasor diagram is showing in Fig.

Capacitive Reactance in an AC Circuit