Title: Analysis of Parallel Resonance in an RLC Parallel Circuit.

Abstract:
A resonant circuit, also called a tuned circuit, consists of an inductor and a capacitor together with a voltage
or current source. It is one of the most important circuits used in electrical and electronic engineering. For
example, a resonant circuit, in one of its many forms, allows us to select a desired radio or television signal
from the vast number of signals that are around us at any time.

A network is in resonance when the voltage and current at the network input terminals are in phase and the
input impedance of the network is purely resistive. The resonance of an RLC parallel circuit is a bit more
involved than the series resonance. The resonant frequency can be defined in three different ways that cover
the same expression as the series resonant frequency if the resistance of the circuit is small.

Introduction:
The parallel resonance is defined as the resonance that results when circuit elements are connected with their
inductance and capacitance in parallel, so that the impedance of the combination rises to a maximum at the
resonant frequency. In many ways, a parallel resonance circuit is exactly the same as the series resonance
circuit we looked at in the previous experiment, that is, experiment # 5. Both are 3-element networks that
contain two reactive components making them a second-order circuit, both are influenced by variations in the
supply frequency and both have a frequency point where their two reactive components cancel each other out
influencing the characteristics of the circuit. Both circuits have a resonant frequency point.

Parallel resonance is a resonance condition that usually occurs in parallel resonant circuits, where the voltage
becomes a maximum for a given current. Being a parallel resonance means the impedance is high and inrush
surge current relatively low compared to a simple capacitor. The basic parallel-resonant circuit is shown in
Fig. 1. Our interest in this experiment is to observe how the amplitude and the phase angle of the output
voltage, Vo varies with the frequency of the sinusoidal input voltage source. A typical parallel resonance
curve is shown in Fig. 2.

vi(t) = Vmsint R L C

B
Figure 1: An RLC parallel circuit for resonance

Figure 2: A typical RLC parallel resonance curve with its associated parameters

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The complex admittance of this circuit is given by adding up the admittances of the components:
1 1 1 1 1 1
= + +
𝑍 𝑍 � �𝐶 � = + 𝑗𝜔𝐶 +
� �𝑅 �
𝑗𝜔𝐿 𝑅

The change from a series arrangement to a parallel arrangement results in the circuit having a peak in impedance at
resonance rather than a minimum, so the circuit is an anti-resonator. The graph in Fig. 2 shows that there is a minimum
in the frequency response of the current at resonance when the circuit is driven by a constant voltage. The angular

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resonance frequency is given by-
𝜔∘ =
√𝐿𝐶
On the other hand, if the circuit is driven by a constant current source, there would be a maximum in the voltage, which

Let us consider that 𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼𝑚 cos(𝜔𝑡) and 𝑉𝜊 = 𝑉𝑚 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃) then we may write-

would follow the same curve as the current in the series circuit.

𝑉 = 𝐼𝑚
𝑚
1 1 2
√
� + (𝜔𝐶 − 𝜔𝐿)
2
1
and 𝜃 = −𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑅 (𝜔𝐶 − )).
�
𝜔𝐿
The ±3 dB frequencies are given by-
1 2
1 1

𝜔2,1 = + ±
𝐿𝐶 2𝑅𝐶
√( )
2𝑅𝐶
The bandwidth is given by-

𝐵= − 1
𝜔2 𝜔1 = 𝑅𝐶

𝜔𝜊 𝐶
The quality factor is given by-

𝑄= = 𝑅√
𝐵 𝐿

Circuit Diagrams:

Figure 3: Resonance to obtained by varying frequency

Figure 4: Resonance to obtained by varying inductance

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 Figure 5: Resonance to obtained by varying capacitance

Equipment list

 Oscilloscope
 Function generator
 Resistor: 100  (1), 100  (2).
 Inductor: 2.4 mH
 Capacitor: 1 F
 Decade inductor box.
 Decade capacitor box.
 Connecting wire.
 Bread board
Procedures:

1. Used the digital ohmmeter to measure the internal resistance of the inductor used and the function
generator.
2. RS = 100 Ω. RL = 100 Ω
3. Constructed the circuit as shown in the Fig. 3. Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope across function
generator and channel 2 of the oscilloscope across R.
4. Has set the amplitude of the input signal 10 V peak to peak and the frequency at 1 kHz. Select the
sinusoidal wave shape.
5. Seen the waves in dual mode or X-Y mode. Gradually increase the frequency and locate the point where
phase difference of the waves is zero, that both wave shapes are in phase. This is our resonance
frequency point.
6. Now for different values of frequency determined the value of I, IL, and IC. Complete Table 1.

Table 1: Parallel resonance by varying frequency [L = 2.4 mH, C = 1 μF]

f (kHz) I(ma) IL(ma) IC(ma)
1 90.63 69.043 37.236
2 107.5 66.6 54.56
3.248 112.24 62.4 62.5
4 111.3 59.55 64.69
5 108.4 55.5 66.4

1. Now constructed the circuit as shown in the Fig. 4.

2. Set the amplitude of the input signal 10 V peak to peak and the frequency at 1 kHz. Select sinusoidal
wave shape.
3. Set L = 0 and measure values of I, IL, and IC.
4. Gradually increase L and measure values of I, IL, and IC for each L. Complete Table 2.
5. Theoretically draw the circle diagram for varying L and verify whether your measured values are on the
circle or not.

Table 2: Parallel resonance by varying inductance [f = 1 kHz, C = 1 μF]

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 L(mH) I(ma) IL(ma) IC(ma)
0 95.03 69.8 37.23
10 70.01 59.23 37.33
20 47.16 43.65 37.45
30 35.48 32.89 37.52
40 30.56 25.96 37.55

1. Now construct the circuit as shown in the Fig. 5.

2. Set the amplitude of the input signal 10 V peak to peak and the frequency at 1 kHz. Select sinusoidal
wave shape.
3. Set C = 0 and measure values of I, IL, and IC.
4. Gradually increase C and measure values of I, IL, and IC for each C. Complete Table 3.
5. Theoretically draw the circle diagram for varying C and verify whether your measured values are on the
circle or not.

Table 3: Parallel resonance by varying capacitance [f = 1 kHz, L =2.4 mH]

C(uF) I(ma) IL(ma) IC(ma)
0 69.23 69.238 0
2 113.25 68.82 54.5
3 123.618 68.706 61.43
4 128.58 68.67 64.54
5 131.264 68.65 66.15
Simulation and Measurement:
By Varying Frequency:

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By Varying Inductance:

5
By Varying Capacitance:

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Report:

1. Complete Tables 1, 2, and 3.

2. Plot the variation of I, IL, and IC on the same graph paper.

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Discussion and Conclusion:

The experiment conducted on an RLC parallel circuit displayed expected resonance behaviors. Data from the
experiment showed that varying the frequency affected the current through the inductor and capacitor, with the
maximum current aligning with the resonance condition where the impedance is minimal. Adjusting the inductance
and capacitance values impacted the resonance frequency, consistent with theoretical predictions. Some
discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results could be attributed to component tolerances,
measurement errors, and non-ideal component characteristics. We found that Current is maximum at resonance.
Overall, the experiment reinforced the theoretical principles of parallel resonance in RLC circuits.

References:

[1] Russel M. Kerchner and George F. Corcoran, “Alternating Current Circuits,” John Wiley & Sons, 4th Edition, New
York, USA, 1960, ISBN 0 85226408 9.
[2] Robert L. Boylestad, “Introductory Circuit Analysis”, Prentice Hall, 12th Edition, New York, 2010, ISBN
9780137146666.
[3] http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/accircuits/parallel-resonance.html accessed on January 12, 2016.
[4] http://www.learnabout-electronics.org/ac_theory/lcr_para_103.php accessed on January 12, 2016.