Maximum Power Transfer Theorem - GATE

Study Material in PDF

In the previous article we discussed about Thevenins theorem, Nortons theorem,
Reciprocity theorem and Tellegens theorem. These lead us to learn about Maximum
Power Transfer Theorem and other theorems that help us further learn Network
Theorems to simplify and analyze complex circuits.
In this article we mainly concentrate on three articles. They are
(i) Maximum power transfer theorem
(ii) Superposition Theorem
(iii) Millmans Theorem
In these GATE Notes we will discuss Maximum Power Transfer Theorem and the other
two theorems. You can download these GATE Study Material in PDF. These notes
are useful for GATE EC, EE, BARC, IES, DRDO, BSNL and other exams! Before you get
started, however, it is important to get through some basics!
Recommended Reading
Basic Network Theory Concepts
Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem
Kirchhoffs Laws KCL & KVL
Nodal & Mesh Analysis
Voltage Division, Current Division, Star-Delta Conversion
Thevenins, Norton's & Tellegens Theorems

Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

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According to this theorem, the load will receive maximum power from a source when its
resistance (RL) is equal to the internal resistance (or) Thevinins (or) Norton Resistance.

Maximum Power Transfer Power in DC Circuits

For the given circuit RL = RTh for maximum power transfer

I! = !

!!"

=!

!" !!!

P!"# = I!! . R ! =

!!"

!" !!!"

!!"
!!!"

= !!!"

!"

. R !"

!!!"

P!"# = !!

!"

!!

!!

!"
But P!"!#$ = I!! R ! + R !" = !!!"
! . R ! + R !" =
!!
!"

!"

R ! = R !"

Efficiency, = ! !"# 100

!"!#$

!!
!"

!!!"
!!
!"

100 = ! 100 = 50%

!!!"

The efficiency of Maximum power can be shown in the below wave form.

Example 1:
Find the maximum power delivered to the load R in the given circuit

Solution:
Step 1: Find VTh

!!" !!"
!

!!"
!"

+0=0

2V!" + 100 + V!" = 0

V!" = 33.3V
Step 2: Find RTh

!"

R !" = 5 + 10||5 = 5 + !" = 5 +

!"
!

= 8.33

!!!"

Maximum power delivered = !!

!"

!!!.! !
!!.!!

= 33.28 watt

Maximum Power Transfer Power in AC Circuits.

For the given network the maximum power transfer theorem can be analyzed in various
cases.

Case i: only RL is variable

Then for maximum power transfer we should have
R! =

R!! + X! + X!

Case ii: only XL is variable

Then for maximum power transfer we should have
XS + XL = 0
Case iii: Both RL and XL are variable
Then for maximum power transfer we should have
XS + XL = 0 XS = -XL
R! =

R!! + X! + X!

 R! =

R!!

+ 0 = R!

RL = RS
For P!"# , Z! = R ! + jX!
= R ! = jX! = Z!
Z! = Z!

Example 2:
Find the maximum power delivered to the load

Solution:
Step 1: Find VTh

!"

V!" = V!" = 100. !!!"!!"

!"

V!" = 100. ! =

!"
!

90 = 13.3390

Step 2: Find ZTh

Z!" =

!!!" !"
!!!"!!"

!"# !!!"
!

= 10.67 + j8

For P!"# , Z! = Z!" = 10.67 j8

So given network becomes

!".!!#$

I! = !".!"!!".!" = 0.624j
P!"# = I!! . R ! = 0.624 ! 10.67 = 4.163 watt
Note:
While calculating Pmax, consider only real part of load resistance i.e. RL.

Superposition Theorem
If a number of voltage or current sources are acting simultaneously in a linear network, the
resultant current in any branch is the algebraic sum of the currents that would be produced
in it when each source acts alone replacing all other independent sources by their internal
resistances.
i.e.

The current i in figure (1) is calculated by adding the currents of i1 and i2 from the figure
(2) and figure (3)
i = i1 + i2

Example 3:
Find I in the circuit shown below using superposition theorem

Solution:
Case i:
When only current source is active and voltage source is replaced by short circuit then,

i! = 1 !!! = ! = 0.33A
Case ii:
When only voltage source is active and current source is replaced by open circuit. Then

2i! + 1V + i! = 0
3i! = 1
!

i! = ! A
From superposition theorem, I = i1 + i2
!

i = ! ! = 0A
I = 0A
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Millmans Theorem
When a number of voltage source V1, V2, V3 --- VN are in parallel having internal resistances
R1, R2, R3 --- Rn respectively, the arrangement can be replaced by a single equivalent voltage
source V in series with an equivalent series resistance R as given below.

Where V! =

!! !! !!! !! !!!!!! !!
!! !!! !!!!!!

R=!=!

!
! !!! !!! !!!!!!

Example 4:
Find the value of current through RL using Millmans theorem.

Solution:
Given R1 = R2 = R3 = 4
G = G1 + G2 + G3
!

=!+!+!=!
!

R = ! = !
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V=

!! !! !!! !! !!! !!
!! !!! !!!

!!

!
!

! !!
!
!

!
!

!!"

!
!

!!!!!!"
!

=!

So given circuit becomes

I! = !!! =
!

!
!

!
!!"
!

= !" = 117.6 mA

Liked this article on Maximum Power Transfer Theorem? Enjoyed reading about
Superposition Theorem? Let us know in the comments. You may also like some more
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