CHAPTER 5:

ENERGY STORAGE ELEMENTS

CONTENTS:
1. CAPACITORS
2. ENERGY STORAGE IN CAPACITORS
3. SERIES AND PARALLEL CAPACITORS
4. INDUCTORS
5. ENERGY STORAGE IN INDUCTORS
6. SERIES AND PARALLEL INDUCTORS
7. PRACTICAL CAPACITORS AND INDUCTORS

LEARNING OUTCOMES...
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
Express the equations for voltage, current, power and energy in a capacitor
and inductor
Determine the total capacitance either in series or parallel connection
Determine the total inductance either in series or parallel connection
Explain how capacitor behaves in the present of constant voltage
Explain how inductor behaves in the present of constant current

C
Symbol

CAPACITOR
A capacitor is a passive electrical device that can store electrical
charge thereby creating an electric field which in turn stores energy.
Two types
1. Fixed capacitors, e.g.
I. Mica capacitor
II. Ceramic capacitor
III. Electrolytic capacitor

2. Variable capacitors e.g. trimmer (for fine adjustment) and varactor

BASIC CONSTRUCTION
An electrical device constructed of 2 parallel
conductive plates separated by an insulating
material called the dielectric.
means that electric charge is not transported
through the capacitor

HOW A CAPACITOR STORES CHARGE

Neutral (uncharged)
capacitor (same charge on
the both plates)

When connected to a
voltage source, electrons
flow from plate A to plate B
as the capacitor charges

HOW A CAPACITOR STORES CHARGE (CONT.)

After the capacitor charges to Vs, no
electrons flow.

Ideally, the capacitor retains charge

when disconnected from the
voltage source

A charged
capacitor
can act as
a battery

The amount of charge stored in the capacitor is

proportional to the applied voltage i.e. Q = CV

CAPACITANCE
Capacitance is a measure of a capacitors ability to store charge.

Unit : Farad, i.e. F

CAPACITOR:
CURRENT EXPRESSION
When a voltage is applied to the terminals of capacitor, the
displacement of charge will take place and it varies with time,
causing what is known as displacement current.
Displacement current is proportional to the rate at which the
voltage varies with time.

dv
iC
dt

(unit : Ampere)

where C (Farads), v (volts) and t (seconds)

This equation reflects the passive sign convention,
i.e. current reference is in the direction of the
voltage drop across the capacitor.

CAPACITOR:
CURRENT EXPRESSION
Two key points observe from the displacement current expression are:
1. Voltage cannot change instantaneously across the terminals. If not, an infinite amount
of current would be produced.
2. Only a time varying voltage would produce a displacement current. If the voltage
across the terminals is constant, the current would be zero. This is because a conduction
current cannot be established in the dielectric material.
CAPACITOR BEHAVES AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE PRESENCE OF A CONSTANT VOLTAGE,
i.e. DC VOLTAGE. (Initially, it will charge until the capacitor is fully charged.)

CAPACITOR:
VOLTAGE EXPRESSION
From displacement current equation, we get the voltage equation as:

1 t
vt i dt vt0
C t0
where v(t0) = q(t0)/C, i.e. initial voltage

The initial voltage implies that the capacitor has

memory.
In many practical applications, initial time, t0 is defined
as 0s.

CAPACITOR:
POWER AND ENERGY EXPRESSIONS

Power

dv
p vi Cv , or
dt
1 t

p i i dt vt0
C t0

Energy stored in a capacitor (derived from power equation)

2

1 2 Q
w Cv
2
2C

EXAMPLE
The voltage pulse described by the following equations is applied to across the
terminals of a 0.5 F capacitor:

t 0s
0 V,

v 4 t V, 0 s t 1 s
4e t 1 V, t 1s

1. Derive the expression for capacitor current, power and energy.

2. Sketch the voltage, current, power and energy as
functions of time.
3. Specify the intervals of times when energy is being stored in the capacitor and
when energy is being delivered by the capacitor.

SOLUTIONS
Current, i from equation

0.5 10 6 0 0 A,
t 0s

i 0.5 10 6 4 2 A,
0 s t 1s
0.5 10 6 4e t 1 2e t 1 A, t 1s

dv
iC
dt

Power, p from equation

t 0s
0 W,

p 4 t 2 8t W,
0 s t 1s
4e t 1 2e t 1 8e 2t 1 W, t 1s

dv
p vi Cv
dt

SOLUTIONS (CONT.)
Energy, w from equation

0 J,
t 0s
1
w 0.5 16t 2 4t 2 J,
0 s t 1s
2
1 0.5 16e 2t 1 4e 2t 1 J, t 1s
2

SOLUTIONS (CONT.)

Energy is being stored in the capacitor whenever the

power is positive. Hence the energy is being stored
in the interval 0 1 s.
Energy is being delivered by the capacitor whenever
the power is negative. Hence the energy is being
delivered for all t > 1 s.

EXERCISE
The voltage across a 5 mF capacitor varies as shown below.
Determine and plot the capacitor current, power and energy.

EXERCISE
The voltage at the terminals of 0.6 F capacitor (shown below) is 0 for t < 0s and
40 e-15 000 t sin 30 000 t V for t 0s. Find:

1. i(0)
2. The power delivered to the capacitor at t = /80 ms
3. The energy stored in the capacitor at t = /80 ms

Answer: 0.72 A, -649.2 mW,

126.13 J

PARALLEL CAPACITORS
Parallel connection of Cs

Apply KCL

iS i1 i2 iN
dv
since in Cn
dt
dv
dv
dv
i S C1 C2
CN
dt
dt
dt
N
dv
iS C n
n 1 dt

Equivalent circuit

iS C P

dv
dt

Compare with its equivalent circuit

C P C1 C2 C N
N

Cn
n 1

SERIES CAPACITORS
Equivalent circuit

Series connection of Cs

Apply KVL vS v1 v2 v N

1 t
since v n
i dt vn t0

t
Cn 0
1 t
1
vS i dt v1 t0
C1 t0
CN
N
N 1 t
vS i dt vn t0
n 1
n 1 Cn t0

1
vS
CS

i dt vt
t

t0

Comparing both:

t0

i dt v N t0

1
1
1
1

CS C1 C2
CN
N
1

n 1 C n

EXERCISE
Find the equivalent capacitance of the circuit shown below.

(Answer: 8/6 mF)

EXERCISE
Find the equivalent capacitance of the circuit shown below.

(Answer: 4 mF)

EXERCISE
Find the relationship for the division of current between two parallel capacitors as shown
below.

(Answer: in = iCn/(C1+C2) where n = 1,2)

L
INDUCTOR
Symbol

An inductor is a passive electrical component designed to store energy in its magnetic field.

Use in electronics and power systems, for e.g. power supplies, transformers, radios,
televisions and radio motors.

Both fixed and variables inductors are classified according to the core materials. 3 main
ones are:
1. Air core
2. Iron core

3. Ferrite core

BASIC CONSTRUCTION

For solenoidal wound

inductor:
N 2 A

where: permeability of
the core, l is length, A is
cross-sectional area

Any conductor that exhibits the property of inductance

may be regarded as an inductor.

To enhance the inductive effect, a practical inductor is

usually formed into a cylindrical coil with many turns of
conducting wires as shown here.

Inductance (unit: Henry) is a measure of the ability to

store energy in the form a magnetic field.

INDUCTANCE
Current through the coil (inductor) produces an electromagnetic field.
When the current changes, the electromagnetic field also changes.
As I , electromagnetic field .
As I , electromagnetic field .

 The changing electromagnetic field causes an induced voltage

across the coil in a direction oppose the change of current.
The induced voltage is proportional to the rate at which the
current varies with time.

di
vL
dt
where L (Henry), i (Ampere) and t (seconds)
This equation reflects the passive sign convention,
i.e. current reference is in the direction of the
voltage drop across the inductor.

INDUCTOR:
VOLTAGE

INDUCTOR:
VOLTAGE EXPRESSION
Two key points observe from the induced voltage expression are:
1. Current in an inductance cannot change instantaneously.
2. Only a time varying current would produce an induced voltage. If the
current is constant, the voltage would be zero.

INDUCTOR BEHAVES AS A SHORT-CIRCUIT IN THE PRESENCE OF A CONSTANT

CURRENT, i.e. DC CURRENT.

INDUCTOR:
CURRENT EXPRESSION
From an induced voltage equation, we get the current equation as:

1 t
it v dt it0
L t0
where i(t0) is the initial current
In many practical applications, initial time, t0 is defined
as 0s.

Note that i(t0) carries its own algebraic sign. If the initial
current is in the same direction as the reference direction
for I, it is a positive quantity. If the initial current is in
the opposite direction, it is a negative quantity.

INDUCTOR:
POWER AND ENERGY EXPRESSIONS

Power

di
p vi Li , or
dt
1 t

p v v dt it0
L t0

Energy stored in an inductor (derived from power equation)

1 2
w Li
2

EXAMPLE

The current in an inductor, L = H, is i = 4te-t A for t 0s and i = 0 A for t < 0s. Find the
voltage, power and energy in this inductor.

SOLUTIONS
Given i = 4te-t A for t 0s, L = H
Voltage at t 0s,

Power,

di 1 d
vL
4te t
dt 4 dt
4 d e t t dt
e
t
4 dt
dt

di 1
p Li 4te t e t 1 t
dt 4
te 2t 1 t W

te t e t
e t 1 t V

Energy,

1 2 1 1
t
w Li 4te
2
2 4
2t 2 e 2t J

EXERCISE

The current through the inductor, L = H of a television tube deflection circuit is shown
below. Find the voltage, power and energy in the inductor.

SERIES INDUCTORS
Series connection of Ls

Apply KVL

v v1 v2 v N
di
since v n Ln
dt
di
di
di
v L1 L2 LN
dt
dt
dt
N
di
v Ln
n 1 dt

Equivalent circuit

di
v LS
dt

Compare with its equivalent circuit

LS L1 L2 LN
N

Ln
n 1

PARALLEL INDUCTORS
Parallel connection of Ls

Equivalent circuit

Apply KCL i i1 i2 iN

1 t
i
v dt it0

t
LP 0
Comparing both:

1 t
since in
v dt in t0

Ln t0
1 t
1
i v dt i1 t0
L1 t0
LN
N
N 1 t
i v dt in t0
n 1
n 1 Ln t0

t0

v dt iN t0

1
1 1
1

LP L1 L2
LN
N
1

n 1 Ln

EXERCISE
Find the equivalent inductance for the circuit shown below.

EXERCISE
Determine the current ratio i1/i for the circuit shown below. Assume that all the initial
currents are zero.

REFERENCES
Alexander Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill,
2009
Richard C. Dorf and James A. Svoboda, Introduction to Electric Circuits, 3rd
edition, John Wiley, 1996
Thomas L. Floyd and David M. Buchla, Electric Circuits Fundamentals, 8th
edition, Pearson, 2010

James W. Nilsson & Susan A. Riedel, Electric Circuits, 9th edition, PearsonPrentice Hall, 2011

THANK YOU