Nodal Voltage Analysis
Nodal voltage analysis is a method for solving electrical networks, particularly useful when all branch currents need to be computed. This approach determines voltages and currents by leveraging the nodes of a circuit.
A node is a terminal where three or more circuit elements connect. Nodal analysis is commonly applied to networks with multiple parallel circuits sharing a common ground terminal, offering the advantage of requiring fewer equations to solve the circuit.
Principles and Application
- Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL): The core principle states that the algebraic sum of all incoming currents at a node must equal the algebraic sum of all outgoing currents.
- Node Classification:
- Reference Node: Serves as the ground or zero-potential reference point for all other nodes.
- Non-Reference Nodes: Nodes with unknown voltages relative to the reference node.
Equation Formulation
The number of independent node equations required is one less than the number of junctions (nodes) in the network. If n represents the number of independent node equations and j is the total number of junctions, the relationship is:n = j - 1
When formulating current expressions, it is assumed that node potentials are always higher than other voltages appearing in the equations.
This method focuses on defining the voltage at each node to find potential differences across elements or branches, making it efficient for analyzing complex circuits with multiple parallel paths.
Let's understand the Nodal Voltage Analysis method through the example shown below:
Steps for Solving Networks via Nodal Voltage Analysis
Using the circuit diagram above, the following steps illustrate the analysis process:
Step 1 – Identify Nodes
Identify and label all nodes in the circuit. In the example, nodes are marked as A and B.
Step 2 – Select Reference Node
Choose a reference node (zero potential) where the maximum number of elements connect. Here, node D is selected as the reference node. Let the voltages at nodes A and B be denoted as VA and VB, respectively.
Step 3 – Apply KCL at Nodes
Apply Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) to each non-reference node:
Applying KCL at Node A: (Formulate current expressions based on the circuit configuration, ensuring algebraic sums of incoming/outgoing currents are balanced.)
Solving Equation (1) and Equation (2) will yield the values of VA and VB.
Key Advantage of Nodal Voltage Analysis
This method requires writing a minimum number of equations to determine unknown quantities, making it efficient for analyzing complex circuits with multiple nodes.
