Abstract :
A method of approximate analysis is given for linear and nonlinear circuits subjected to sinusoidal or non-sinusoidal applied voltages. In brief, the method may be said to be a periodic analogue of the technique of time series. Waveforms are represented by an n-component operator giving the values of the wave at each of n ordinates. For waves containing only odd harmonics, the half-cycle is divided into n parts, while for those containing even harmonics the complete cycle is divided into n parts. The central feature of the method is the use of a shift operator, u, which translates any waveform to the right by l/nth of a half-cycle or of a complete cycle as the case may be. The fundamental relations un = ? 1 and un = 1 are obtained in the two cases respectively. For linear circuit work the method is advantageous where the periodic input is numerically or graphically specified and where a similar description of the output is required. The procedure is then to form, according to certain rules, an impedance operator for the circuit and to operate on the inverse of the impedance operator, i.e. the admittance operator, by the input wave of applied voltage. The waveform of the current, or the output in the case of a transfer-function operator, is then obtained. From this, r.m.s. values and powers are easily computed. Since the method relates basically to operations on non-sinusoidal waveforms displaced with respect to each other, it is also suitable for e.m.f. calculations in distributed coil groups moving in non-sinusoidal fields. In the solution of non-linear circuits, e.g. those containing ironcored coils or non-linear resistors, the current is obtained by a process of continued approximation. This can be done very simply. An initial solution is assumed or a very rough calculation made in order to start the procedure. One particular method of doing this is to assume that all of the applied voltage acts across the non-linearity. From the static characteristic of the non-- linearity a second estimation can then be made of the voltage acting across the non-linearity using the imposed circuit equation. The two estimations are averaged and the procedure is repeated until there is only a small change in any of the waveforms. The method appears to be of fairly general application. Both sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal applied voltages may be handled with the same amount of work. It is suitable for instantaneous and non-instantaneous non-linearities, and since it provides a response waveform, r.m.s. currents and powers may be obtained. It is also suitable for circuits containing more than one non-linearity. The method, however, is approximate, numerical and relates to a fixed frequency. The accuracy is generally within 5% of the maximum ordinate in the waveform with the normal ordinate spacings employed. R.M.S. values and powers, however, may be obtained more accurately, the error in these seldom exceeding 2%.
