What Is Difference Between AC and DC Resistance of A Conductor - Electrical Volt
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Jai GaneshWhat Is Difference Between AC and DC Resistance of A Conductor - Electrical Volt
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What is difference between AC and DC Resistance of a
conductor?
What is difference between AC and DC Resistance?
The AC resistance is always more than the DC resistance. Let us understand
what is the difference between AC and DC resistance.The resistance of
the conductor is inversely proportional to the cross section area through
which the current flows. The AC resistance is more than the DC resistance
because the alternating current flowing through the conductor does not
distribute uniformly and concentrates near the surface of the conductor and
thus the effective cross section area decrease and the resistance increase.
When the DC current flows through the conductor the total cross section area
of the conductor is utilized and thus DC resistance is less. AC and DC
resistance calculation is important for selection of the conductors or cables in
view of reduction of line loss.
The resistance of the conductor is expressed by the following formula.
R= ρL/A
Where,
ρ = Resistivity of the conductor (Ω⋅m)
L = length of the conductor(m)
A = Area of cross section of conductor( Sq.meter)
The resistance of the conductor calculated using above given formula is
known as the DC resistance of the conductor. The AC resistance of the
same conductor is always more than the DC resistance because of the skin
effect and proximity effect. A conductor always offers higher resistance to the
flow of alternating current compared to the resistance offered when direct
current flows through the conductor. The effective cross section area of the
conductor reduces with an increase in the frequency due to skin effect and
proximity effect.
The tendency of an alternating current to flow near the surface of the
conductor is known as skin effect. As the frequency of the current increases,
the current tends to flow at the outer surface of the conductor. The current
density is largest at the outer surface of the conductor.Thus,the effective area
of the conductor decreases when alternating current flows in the conductor,
and the resistance gets increased.
The current distribution over the entire cross section area of the conductor is
not uniform when an alternating current flows through the conductor. The
current density is higher at the outer surface of the conductor compared to
the current density at its center. When the current enters in the conductor it
creates a force due to moving charge and this force brings the charges
towards the surface of the conductor. The force increases with increase in the
frequency.
With an increase in frequency, the charges moves with a faster rate at the
outer surface of the conductor; the cross sectional area becomes smaller due
to skin effect and the effective resistance of the conductor increases. The
factors affecting the skin effect are shape of the conductor, nature of material,
diameter of the conductor and the operating frequency.
When the ac current flows in the circuit, the distribution of the current in the
conductor depends on the nature of the impedance offered by the current
flowing in the conductor. If the circuit is inductive or capacitive the magnetic
field set up with flow of current will oppose the main current, and thus it will
offer higher impedance.
The higher frequency current will create a strong Lorentz Force and it brings
the moving charges at the outer surface of the conductor. The AC resistance
of the conductor is always higher than the DC resistance of the conductor. The
main reasons of this are the SKIN EFFECT and The PROXIMITY EFFECT.
The mathematical relation between AC and DC resistance is as given below.
Rac=Rdc[1+αs+αp]
Where,
Rac = The ac resistance of the conductor
Rdc = The DC resistance of the conductor
αs,αp = Skin effect and Proximity effect factor
How does the SKIN EFFECT increase the AC Resistance?
The AC resistance increase with an increase in the frequency because more
charge gets concentrated near the surface of the conductor. As we go from
the surface of the conductor to the center of conductor the charge
concentration decreases and becomes zero at the center of the core.The
depth till the charge concentration is available or the current flows in the
conductor is known as the Skin Depth.The skin depth symbol is δ.
The skin depth decrease with an increase in the frequency for a particular
conductor. The skin depth depends on the frequency and the resistivity of the
material. The skin depth is proportional to the frequency and inversely
proportional to the resistivity.
The skin depth of different conducting material for different frequency is as
given below.
The skin depth can be calculated using following mathematical
expression.The skin depth formula is as given below.
The skin depth is maximum if the frequency is zero-The DC has zero
frequency so the skin depth is maximum and the total cross section area of
the conductor carries the current hence the DC resistance is low. The AC
resistance is always higher than the DC resistance.If the skin depth is larger
than the radius of the wire then the AC resistance is equal to the DC
resistance.
How Does the proximity Effect increase the AC resistance?
Proximity Effect
When the two nearby conductor carries a current, a magnetic field is set up
around the conductor.The flux produced by one conductor gets linked to the
other conductor and produce eddy current around the conductor which results
apparent increase in the resistance of the conductor.The phenomenon is
known as the PROXIMITY EFFECT.
The current distribution in the conductor gets changed due to proximity
effect.The current tends to concentrated away from the center of the
conductor.This leads to decrease in the apparent cross section area of the
conductor.
The current distribution in the conductors when the current flows in the same
direction is as given below.
The current concentrates away from the center of both the conductors when
the current flows in the same direction. Thus the apparent area of the
conductor gets reduced and conductor resistance increase. If the frequency of
current is higher the current tends to concentrate more farther from the
center and the resistance of the conductor increase.
The current distribution in the conductors when the current flows in the
opposite direction is as given below.
This case has similar effects but the current concentrates at the adjacent
sides of the conductor.However, with this current the resistance will get
increased because of the reduction in the apparent area of the conductors.
In case of the DC, the SKIN EFFECT and PROXIMITY EFFECT is totally absent.
