# Resonance

(Redirected from Series Resonance)

## Classical Derivations

### Series Resonance

Figure 1. Classical series resonance circuit

The classical circuit to demonstrate series resonance is the RLC circuit shown in the figure right, which shows a voltage source connected to R, L and C impedances in series. Given a fixed ac voltage source U operating at angular frequency ω, the current in the circuit is given by the following:

$I = \frac{U}{Z} = \frac{U}{R + j \left(\omega L - \frac{1}{\omega C} \right)}$
$= \frac{U}{R + j \left(\frac{\omega^{2} LC - 1}{\omega C} \right)}$

The current is at a maximum when the impedance is at a minimum. So given constant R, L and C, the minimum impedance occurs when:

$\omega^{2} LC - 1 = 0 \,$

or

$\omega = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}}$

This angular frequency is called the resonant frequency of the circuit. At this frequency, the current in the series circuit is at a maximum and this is referred to as a point of series resonance. The significance of this in practice is when harmonic voltages at the resonant frequency cause high levels of current distortion.

### Parallel Resonance

Figure 2. Classical parallel resonance circuit

The classical circuit to demonstrate series resonance is the RLC circuit shown in the figure right, which shows a current source connected to R, L and C impedances in parallel. Given a fixed ac current source I operating at angular frequency ω, the voltage across the impedances is given by the following:

$V = IZ = \frac{I}{\frac{1}{R} + j \left(\omega C - \frac{1}{\omega L} \right)}$
$= \frac{I}{\frac{1}{R} + j \left(\frac{\omega^{2} LC - 1}{\omega L} \right)}$

The voltage is at a maximum when the impedance is also at a maximum. So given constant R, L and C, the maximum impedance occurs when:

$\omega^{2} LC - 1 = 0 \,$

or

$\omega = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}}$

Notice that the resonant frequency is the same as that in the series resonance case. At this resonant frequency, the voltage in the parallel circuit is at a maximum and this is referred to as a point of parallel resonance. The significance of this in practice is when harmonic currents at the resonant frequency cause high levels of voltage distortion.

## Resonance in Practical Circuits

### Series Resonance

Here a distorted voltage at the input of the transformer can cause high harmonic current distortion (Ih) at the resonant frequency of the RLC circuit.

### Parallel Resonance

In this more common scenario, a harmonic current source (Ih) can cause high harmonic voltage distortion on the busbar at the resonant frequency of the RLC circuit. The harmonic current source could be any non-linear load, e.g. power electronics interfaces such as converters, switch-mode power supplies, etc.