AC Circuits with Transformers

Introduction
The circuits in this problem set contain ideal transformers. Each problem involves the steady
state response of such a circuit to a single sinusoidal input. That input is either the voltage of an
independent voltage source or the current of an independent current source.
Circuit analysis in the frequency-domain provides the solutions to these problems.
The solutions to these examples use the circuit equivalence illustrated in Figure 1.

(a)

(b)
Figure 1 The circuit shown in (b) is equivalent to the circuit shown in (a).
Figure 1a shows Circuit A connected to the left-hand coil of an ideal transformer. An impedance,
Z(w), is connected in parallel with the right-hand coil of the ideal transformer. In Figure 1b the
ideal transformer and impedance have been replaced by a single equivalent impedance, Zeq(w).
The equivalent impedance is related to the original impedance by

N
Zeq ( ) = 1 Z ( )
N2
The two circuits in Figure 1 are equivalent. All the currents and voltages of Circuit A, including
I(w) and V(w), are the same in Figure 1b as they are in Figure 1a. We can determine the values
of I(w) and V(w) in Figure 1a by calculating values of I(w) and V(w) in Figure 1b.
Ideal transformers are described in Section 11.10 of Introduction to Electric Circuits by R.C.
Dorf and J.A Svoboda. In particular, Table 11.14-2 summarizes the equations that represent
ideal transformers in the frequency-domain. Circuit analysis in the frequency-domain is
described in Sections 10.6 thru 10.11. Table 10.7-1 summarizes the correspondence between the
time-domain and the frequency-domain.

Worked Examples
Example 1:
Consider the circuit shown in Figure 2. The input to the circuit is the voltage of the voltage
source, vs(t). The output is the voltage across the 9 W resistor, vo(t). Determine the output
voltage, vo(t).

Figure 2 The circuit considered in Example 1.

Solution: In Figure 2, the 9 W resistor is connected in parallel with the right hand coil of the
transformer. Replace the transformer and the 9 W resistor with an equivalent resistor as shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3 The circuit from Figure 2, after replacing the transformer and the 9 W resistor with an
equivalent resistor
The equivalent resistance is given by
2

2
R eq = 9 = 4
3
In Figure 3, the 8 W is connected in series with the equivalent resistor, Req. The current i(t) is the
current in the series resistors and vs(t) is the voltage across the series resistors. Applying Ohms
Law gives
i (t ) =

vs ( t )
48 cos ( 4 t + 114 )
=
= 4 cos ( 4 t + 114 ) A
8 + R eq
8+ 4

(1)

Because the circuits in Figures 2 and 3 are equivalent, the current i(t) in Figure 2 is also given by
Equation 1. Figure 4 shows the circuit from Figure 2 redrawn with the current i(t) labeled. Also,
the current in the right-hand coil of the transformer has been labeled as i2(t). Since i(t) and i2(t)
are the currents in the coils of the ideal transformer, they are related by the equations describing
the transformer.

8
2
i2 ( t ) = i ( t ) = cos ( 4 t + 114 ) A
3
3
Next, notice that i2(t) and vo(t), the current and voltage of the 9 W resistor in Figure 3, do not
adhere to the passive convention. Consequently, using Ohms law gives
vo ( t ) = 9 i2 ( t ) = 24 cos ( 4 t + 114 ) V

Figure 4. The circuit from Figure 1 after determining the current i(t).

Example 2:
Consider the circuit shown in Figure 5. The input to the circuit is the voltage of the voltage
source, vs(t). The output is the voltage across the 9 H inductor, vo(t). Determine the output
voltage, vo(t).

Figure 5 The circuit considered in Example 2.

Solution: The input voltage is a sinusoid. The output voltage is also a sinusoid and has the same
frequency as the input voltage. Apparently the circuit is at steady state. Consequently, the circuit
in Figure 5 can be represented in the frequency domain, using phasors and impedances. Figure 6
shows the frequency domain representation of the circuit from Figure 5.

In Figure 6, the impedance of the inductor is connected in series with the impedance of the 30 W
resistor. This series impedance is connected in parallel with the right hand coil of the
transformer. Replace the transformer and the series impedance with the equivalent impedance as
shown in Figure 7. The equivalent impedance is given by
2

Z eq

3
= (30 + j 36) = 67.5 + j 81
2

Figure 6 The circuit from Figure 5, represented in the frequency domain, using impedances and
phasors.

Figure 7 The circuit from Figure 6, after replacing the transformer and the impedance of the
series resistor and inductor with the equivalent impedance.

In Figure 7, the impedance of the 8 W resistor is connected in series with the equivalent
impedance, Zeq(w). The current I(w), is the current in this series impedance and Vs(w) is the
voltage across the series impedance. Applying Ohms Law gives
I ( ) =

Vs ( )
75.526
75.526
=
=
= 0.682 21 A
8 + Z eq ( ) 8 + 67.5 + j 81 110.7347

(2)

Because the circuits in Figures 6 and 7 are equivalent, the current I(w) in Figure 6 is also given
by Equation 2. Figure 8 shows the circuit from Figure 6 redrawn with the current I(w) labeled.
Also, the current in the right-hand coil of the transformer has been labeled as I2(w). Since I(w)
and I2(w) are the currents in the coils of the ideal transformer, they are related by the equations
describing the transformer.
3
I 2 ( ) = I ( ) = 1.023 21 A
2

Notice that I2(w) and Vo(w), the current and voltage of the j36 W impedance in Figure 8, do not
adhere to the passive convention. Consequently, using Ohms law gives
Vo ( ) = j 36 I 2 ( ) = ( j 36 )(1.023-21 ) = ( 3690 )(1.023-21 ) = 36.8269 V

In the time domain, the output voltage is given by

vo ( t ) = 36.82 cos ( 4 t + 69 ) V

Figure 8. The circuit from Figure 6 after determining the current I(w).