# Electrical network analysis: Using nodal method

## Electronics & Software

#### Introduction

This sheet describes the basics of electrical network analysis. The description focuses on the modeling of a circuit for static or dynamic analysis using nodal analysis. Calculation may be performed with a computer aid such as MATLAB.
A network of passive elements (such as resistance and/or reactance) can be analyzed on current and voltage in each circuit node as result of used component parameters, voltage- and current sources.

#### Background

• A ‘node’ is a point (‘star’) between components
• Symbols: voltage ($u$), current ($i$), resistance ($R$)
• Using Ohms law -> $G\cdot u=i$ with $G=\frac{1}{R}$
• Sum of currents in each node of circuit is zero: $\sum i=0$

#### Modeling Procedure

1. Set up a network without sources; sources are replaced by open circuits. All node voltages are referenced to ground voltage. As the potential of the reference node is known, this node is left out of the equation.
2. The circuit model is described in a set of equations in a partitioned matrix:
according to Ohm’s law: $i_s=G\cdot\bar{u}+Q$
node voltage constraints: $u_s=P\cdot\bar{u}$
resulting in: $\left[\begin{matrix}G\ Q\\P\ 0\\\end{matrix}\right]\left[\begin{matrix}\bar{u}\\\bar{i}\\\end{matrix}\right]=\left[\begin{matrix}i_s\\u_s\\\end{matrix}\right]$
3. Matrix G is the model description without sources:
1. On diagonal $G_{i,i}$; passives connected to node ui. (positive values)
2. Other matrix elements $G_{i,j}$: passives connected to other nodes from $u_i$ to $u_j$ (negative values)
Crosscheck:
Sum of row $G_i$ results in elements connected to reference from node $u_i$
Sum of col $G_j$ results in elements connected to reference from node $u_j$
4.  Matrix $Q$ describes the current constrains for voltage sources. Matrix $P$ describes the voltage constrains between nodes (or relationship).
5. Current sources may be added in vector $i_s$ and voltage sources in vector $u_s$

#### Resulting unknowns

From this set of equations differential voltages and currents can be calculated:

Differential voltages:
Currents:

$u_{xy}=u_x-u_y$
$i_{xy}=\frac{u_{xy}}{R_{xy}}$

#### Dynamic analysis

Each passive may be described as resistance $R$, inductive reactance $X_L=j\omega L$ or capacitive reactance $X_c=\frac{1}{j\omega C}$. Keep in mind that the components in the matrix are inverted so:
Conductance: $G=\frac{1}{R}$ or susceptance: $B=\frac{1}{X}$. For dynamic analysis only the source of interest has to be described, other sources are short or open for voltage and current sources respectively.

#### Example: Circuit with voltage- and current sources

Modeling matrix $G$ by neglecting sources:

For passives; $G=\frac{1}{R}$ thus for example: $G_1=\frac{1}{R_1}$

After establishing the description of the network in matrix notation, the sources can be added.
Now we expand the equation by adding the voltage source descriptions $u_{s2}=u_3-u_5$, $u_{s1}=u_0$ and current source: node $u_3$ current is sourced with ${+i}_{s1}$ and in node $u_4$ current is sourced with ${-i}_{s1}$ (thus sinked).

Vector $\left[\begin{matrix}\bar{u}&\bar{i}\\\end{matrix}\right]^T$ may be calculated by:

• using: $\left[\begin{matrix}\bar{u}\\\bar{i}\\\end{matrix}\right]=\left[\begin{matrix}G\ Q\\P\ 0\\\end{matrix}\right]^{-1}\left[\begin{matrix}i_s\\u_s\\\end{matrix}\right]$
• or using the reduced row echelon form of matrix $\left[\begin{matrix}G\ Q\\P\ 0\\\end{matrix}\begin{matrix}{\ i}_s\\{\ u}_s\\\end{matrix}\right]$

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