Maximum power transfer theorems and impedance matching 623
Figure 35.10
(b) Current I D
E
z C Z
D
79.07
6
48.43
°
3.75 C j1.25 C 3.75 j1.25
D
79.07
6
48.43
°
7.5
D 10.543
6
48.43
°
A
Thus the maximum power transferred, P D I
2
R D 10.543
2
3.75
D 417 W
Further problems on the maximum power transfer theorems may be found
in Section 35.3, problems 1 to 10, page 626.
35.2 Impedance
matching
It is seen from Section 35.1 that when it is necessary to obtain the
maximum possible amount of power from a source, it is advantageous
if the circuit components can be adjusted to give equality of impedances.
This adjustment is called ‘impedance matching’ and is an important
consideration in electronic and communications devices which normally
involve small amounts of power. Examples where matching is impor-
tant include coupling an aerial to a transmitter or receiver, or coupling a
loudspeaker to an amplifier.
The mains power supply is considered as infinitely large compared
with the demand upon it, and under such conditions it is unnecessary to
consider the conditions for maximum power transfer. With transmission
lines (see Chapter 44), the lines are ‘matched’, ideally, i.e., terminated in
their characteristic impedance.
With d.c. generators, motors or secondary cells, the internal impedance
is usually very small and in such cases, if an attempt is made to make the
load impedance as small as the source internal impedance, overloading
of the source results.
A method of achieving maximum power transfer between a source and
a load is to adjust the value of the load impedance to match the source
impedance, which can be done using a ‘matching-transformer’.
A transformer is represented in Figure 35.11 supplying a load
impedance Z
L
.
Figure 35.11 Matching impedance by means of a transformer
Small transformers used in low power networks are usually regarded
as ideal (i.e., losses are negligible), such that