Analysis Methods

ACE 05

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 Introduction
• Techniques for circuit analysis:

– Nodal Analysis
 Based on KCL

– Mesh Analysis
 Based on KVL

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 Terminology
• Node – a point where two or more circuit elements join
• Essential node – a trace where three or more circuit elements
join
• Branch – a path that connects two nodes
• Essential Branch – a path which connects two essential nodes
• Loop – A path whose last node is the same as the starting node
• Mesh – a loop that does not enclose any other loop

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 Nodes, Branches & Loops
• Example 1:
– A circuit containing 3 nodes, 2 essential nodes, and 3 meshes.

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources
• Makes use of node voltages as circuit variables.
• Given a circuit with n essential nodes:
1. Select a node as the reference node.
Reference node  Node with 0 potential.
2. Assign voltages v1, v2,… vn-1 to the remaining n-1
nodes.
The voltages are referenced with respect to the reference node.
3. Apply KCL to each of the n-1 non-reference nodes.
Use Ohm’s Law to express the branch currents in terms of node
voltages.
4. Solve to determine the unknown node voltages.
Use substitution method or Cramer’s Rule.

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources

• Example 1:
– Find the voltages across the 2Ω and 7Ω resistors.

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources
1. Identify & label all essential nodes, n = #of nodes = 3
2. Select a node as the reference node.
Reference node  Node with 0 potential.

1 2

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources
3. Assign voltages v1, v2,… vn-1 to the remaining n-1 nodes.
The voltages are referenced with respect to the reference node.

Answer
v1 = -2v
v2 = -14v

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources
4. Apply KCL to each of the n-1 non-reference nodes.
Use Ohm’s Law to express the branch currents in terms of node
voltages.

Answer
v1 = -2v
v2 = -14v

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources
KCL @ node 1:
Assume the node to be of highest potential.

v1 v1 − v2
−1 + + =0
2 6
− 6 + 3v1 + v1 − v2 = 0
4v1 − v2 = 6 
→ eqn.1

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 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources
KCL @ node 2:
Assume the node to be of highest potential.

v2 − v1 v2
+ +4=0
6 7
7v2 − 7v1 + 6v2 + 168 = 0

− 7v1 + 13v2 = −168 

→ eqn. 2

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 Solving for the node voltages:
v = 4v − 6 
→ eqn.1'
2 1
substitute eqn.1' in eqn. 2,
- 7v + 13(4v − 6) = −168
1 1
v = −2 V
1
substitute value in eqn.1'
v = 4(−2) − 6
2
v = −14 V Answer :
2
v2 Ω = −2 V
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v7 Ω = −14 V 12/29
 Nodal Analysis with Current Sources

• Example 2:
– Find the voltages at the three non-reference nodes.

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 Solution:
At node 1,
v1 − v2 v1 − v3
− 10 + + =0
3 2

− 60 + 2v1 − 2v2 + 3v1 − 3v3 = 0

5v1 − 2v2 − 3v3 = 60 → eqn.1

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Solution:
At node 2,
v2 − v1 v2
+ − 4ix = 0
3 4
but
v2
ix =
4
v2 − v1 v2 v2
+ − 4( ) = 0
3 4 4
− 4v1 − 5v2 = 0 → eqn.2
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Solution:
At node 3,
v3 − v1 v3
4ix + + =0
2 6
but
v2
ix =
4
v2 v3 − v1 v3
4( ) + + =0
4 2 6
6v2 + 3v3 − 3v1 + v3 = 0

− 3v1 + 6v2 + 4v3 = 0 → eqn.3

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Solving for node voltages using Cramer’s Rule:

 5, − 2, − 3  v1  60
− 4, − 5, 0  v  = 0 
  2   
− 3, 6, 4 v3  0 

Answers:
v1 = 80 V
v2 = -64 V
v3 = 156 V

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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
• Two cases to consider:
– Case 1: A voltage source is connected between the reference node
and non-reference node.
• Set the voltage at the non-reference node equal to the voltage source.

– Case 2: A voltage source connected between two non-reference

node
• The two non-reference nodes form a super node.
• Apply both KCL and KVL to determine the node voltages.

#Super node is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage source

connected between two non-reference nodes and any elements connected in parallel
with it.

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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

• Determine the node voltages.

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 1. Identify & label all essential nodes, n = #of nodes
2. Select a node as the reference node.
Reference node  Node with 0 potential.
Tip: Use the common terminal of the voltage sources as the
reference node.

1 2 3

4
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 3. Assign voltages va, vb & vc to the remaining nodes
Observe that the voltage sources are connected between the reference
node and non-reference node.
va = 10 → eqn.1 Set the voltage at the non-reference node equal to the voltage source.
CASE 1.
vc = 5i
but
va − vb
i=
2
10 − vb
i=
2
vb
i = 5−
2
thus,
vb
vc = 5(5 − )
2
5v
vc = 25 − b → eqn.2 Note: Equations 1 & 2 are called Supplementary Equations
2
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 4. Apply KCL to each of the n-1 non-reference nodes. Use
Ohm’s Law to express the branch currents in terms of node voltages.

At node b,
vb − va vb vb − vc
+ + = 0 → eqn.3
2 4 3
but
5vb
vc = 25 −
2
va = 10
and
vb
i = 5−
2
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Solving for the node voltages:
substitutevc and i in eqn.3,
5vb
vb − ( 25 − )
vb − 10 vb 2
+ + =0
2 4 3

vb = 6.957 V
substitutevb in eqn.2, Therefore, the node voltages are :
5(6.957) va = 10 V
vc = 25 −
2 vb = 6.957 V
vc = 7.609 V
vc = 7.609 V
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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

• Find v and i

v=-0.2v, i = 1.4A
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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
1. Identify & label all essential nodes, n = #of nodes
2. Select a node as the reference node.
Reference node  Node with 0 potential.

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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
– Case 2: A voltage source
connected between two non-
reference nodes.
• The two non-reference nodes
form a super node.
• Apply both KCL and KVL to
determine the node voltages.

#Super node is formed by enclosing a

(dependent or independent) voltage
source connected between two non-
reference nodes and any elements
v = va → eqn.1
connected in parallel with it. vb
i= → eqn.2
2
vb − va = 3 → eqn.3
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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source

• Properties of super node:

– The voltage source inside the super node provides constraint

equation needed to solve for the node voltages.
(Supplementary Equation)
– A super node has no voltage of its own.
– A super node requires the application of both KCL and KVL.

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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

3. Apply both KCL and KVL to determine the node voltages.

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 The currents exit the supernode.

va − 7 va vb vb
+ + + = 0 → eqn.4
4 3 2 6
but
vb − va = 3 → eqn.3
vb = 3 + va → eqn.3'
substitute eqn.3' in eqn. 4,
va − 7 va 3 + va 3 + va
+ + + =0
4 3 2 6 v = va
3va − 21 + 4va + 18 + 6va + 6 + 2va = 0 v = −0.2 V
va = −0.2 V
substitute va in eqn. 3' , vb 2.8
i = =
vb = 3 + ( −0.2) 2 2
vb = 2.8 V i = 1.4 A
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