CHAPTER 2

Part 1:
Fundamental of
AC Theory
C O U R S E O U T C O M E

Describe the fundamentals of

CO
1 electrical concept in power
system

ZZ FKE
 WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AC
THEORY?

THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN DC AND AC COMPONENT USE IN AC

Definition and application Resistor, Capacitor and
DC Vs AC COMPONENT Inductor

COMMON
PARAMETER
PARAMETER ASSOCIATED WITH AC TERM COMMON TERM USE IN AC
The parameter that has direct related with AC Term that always used in AC related
circuit and calculation

2
 THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
DC AND AC
DIRECT CURRENT
DEFINITION:
• DC is a form of electrical current or voltage
that flows around an electrical circuit in one
direction only.
• Both DC currents and voltages are produced
by power supplies, batteries, dynamos and
solar cells.
• A DC voltage or current has a fixed magnitude
(amplitude) and a definite direction associated
with it.
• For example, +12V represents 12 volts in the
positive direction, or -5V represents 5 volts in
the negative direction.
ALTERNATING CURRENT
DEFINITION:
• AC is defined as one that varies in both magnitude and
direction in more or less an even manner with respect to time.
• Generally refers to a time-varying waveform with the most
common of all being called a Sinusoid better known as a
Sinusoidal Waveform.
• An AC waveform is constantly changing its polarity every half
cycle alternating between a positive maximum value and a
negative maximum value respectively with regards to time with
a common example of this being the domestic mains voltage
supply we use in our homes.
• Alternating voltages and currents cannot be stored in batteries
or cells like direct current (DC) can, it is much easier and
cheaper to generate these quantities using alternators or
waveform generators when they are needed.
DC vs AC
A constant voltage source AALTERNATING CURRENT
sinusoidal voltage source supplies
supplies the same voltage the voltage varies
(AC) with time
at every instant
CURRENT FLOW

DC
SOURCE

Alternating current (ac) is an electric

current which periodically reverses
direction, in contrast to direct current
which flows only in one direction
PARAMETER ASSOCIATED WITH AC
 is the phase angle of
Vm is the the sinusoidal
SINUSOIDAL WAVEFORM

maximum function. It determines

value for the value of the
the voltage sinusoidal voltage at
or the time t=0s.
amplitude Changing  will shift
(A) of the the wave along the
sinusoidal time axis.
voltage The period, T, is the time
taken to complete one
cycle ( unit : second, s)
1 CYCLE
A time-harmonic function is any
physical quantity that is a 1 General equation
3
 is the angular frequency
of the sinusoidal function ,
sinusoidal function of time. Thus, a where
time-harmonic voltage, v(t), has a
The frequency, f, is the number of
general mathematical form given 2 cycle per second, where
by the following cosine function:
NOTES
• Be careful when adding t and . The unit t is radians.
The unit for  is degrees.
• To add both the values, they should be the same units.
• To change radians to degrees, multiply the number in
radians with 1800/.
• To change degrees to radians, multiply the number in
degrees with /1800.
• An important value from the sinusoidal function is its RMS
value. RMS mean for root-mean-square. For sinusoidal
functions; Vm
Vrms 
2
TIME-DOMAIN PHASOR-DOMAIN
EXAMPLE
An AC signal is given as v (t) = 141.4 sin 314t. Determine the
following:

a) Maximum voltage
b) RMS voltage
c) Frequency
d) Period to complete 1 cycle
e) Phase shift
PHASOR
• The basic purpose of phasor diagrams is to show the magnitudes and
phase angles between voltages and currents.
• A phasor is similar to a vector in the sense that it bears an arrow, and
its length is proportional to the effective value of the voltage or
current it represents.
• The angle between two phasors is equal to the electrical phase angle
between the quantities
Imag
VR

IR θ is the angle between V & I

V
θ = θv - θi
I
Real
Example of phasor diagram
PHASOR DIAGRAM
Sinusoidal voltage equation:

Polar form Rectangular form

Imag

The phasor V can be Vm

represented by a Vmsin
phasor diagram 
Real
Vmcos
PHASOR DIAGRAM
• In the device like a resistor, the current across the resistor is in
phase with the voltage source.
• But for the devices like inductor or a capacitor, the current either
lags or leads the voltage source to a certain value. This theory of
phasors is used to relate the current and the voltage in capacitor
and inductor circuit.
• When capacitors or inductors are involved in an AC circuit, the
current and voltage do not peak at the same time.
• The fraction of a period difference between the peaks expressed
in degrees is said to be the phase difference.
PHASOR DIAGRAM FOR CAPACITOR
+ V - j
I In the phasor domain, Z =
C
Z

Voltage –current relationship

CIVIL Current lead voltage by 90°

PHASOR DIAGRAM FOR INDUCTOR
In the phasor domain, Z = jL
+ V -
I
Z

CIVIL Voltage lead current by 90°

COMMON TERM USED IN AC
• Star-delta (Y)
• Power factor (leading, lagging)
• Line current
• Inductive load
• Capacitive load
• Phase voltage
• Phase current
• Three phase
• Reactive, Instantaneous, Active Power (Power in AC circuit)
• One-line diagram
• Steady-state current