Maximum Power Transfer

Maximize the power delivered to a

resistive load

Consider the General Case

A resistive network contains independent
and dependent sources.
A load is connected to a pair of terminals
labeled a b.
What value of load resistance permits
maximum power delivery to the load?

General Case (continued)

Take the Thevenin equivalent of the circuit

Look at the power developed in the load

p = i R

V
Th
R

Th

+ R

L
5

Find the value of Rload that maximizes power

dp
dR
(R
R

= V
Th
L

+ R )
Th
L

(R

= R

+ R )
Th
L

- 2R (R
+ R )
L Th
L
4
(R
+ R )
Th
L

= 2R

load

(R

= 0

+ R )
Th
L

Th

The maximum power delivered to the load

2

max

= I R

V
Th
(2R )
L

max

V
Th
4R

Example 4.12
a) Find the value of RL for maximum
power transfer to RL.

Determine the Thevenin Equivalent

150
V
=
Th

(360) = 300V
180
(150)(30)

Th

= 25
150 + 30
9

= 25

10

Example 4.12 continued

b) Calculate the maximum power that can
be delivered to RL.

p = i R

300

2
(25)

50

p = 900W

11

Example 4.12 continued

What percentage of the power delivered
by the 360 V source reaches RL?
V
= 150V
ab
+
Isource

Vab

360 - 150
I

source

= 7A
30

= -I (360) = -2520W
s

12

Example 4.12 continued

Percentage of source power delivered to
the load

900
100% = 35.71%
2520
13