Electrical Circuits for Engineers

(EC1000)

Lecture-4 (a)
Super Node and Super Mesh
(Ch.3.3)

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 Super Node
(Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources)
• We now consider how voltage sources affect nodal analysis.

• We use the circuit below for illustration.

Consider the following two possibilities

1. If a voltage source is connected between the

reference node and a non-reference node, we
simply set the voltage at the non-reference
node equal to the voltage of the voltage source.
See Fig, V1 = 10 V

2. If the voltage source (dependent or

independent) is connected between two non-
reference nodes, the two non-reference nodes
form a generalized node or supernode;

we apply both KCL and KVL to determine the node

voltages.

A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage source connected

between two non-reference nodes and any elements connected in parallel with it.
 Super Node
(Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources)
KCL must be satisfied at a supernode like any other node. Hence, at the
supernode in Figure,

To apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law to the supernode in

Figure, we redraw the circuit as shown in Figure (see
right side). Going around the loop in the
clockwise direction gives

we obtain the node voltages

• The voltage source inside the supernode provides a constraint
equation needed to solve for the node voltages.
• A supernode has no voltage of its own.
• A supernode requires the application of both KCL and KVL.
 Super Node
For the circuit shown in Figure, find the node voltages.

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 Problems
1. Find v and i in the circuit of Figure.

Ans: 2.8 A, -400 mV,

2. Apply nodal analysis to io find and the power dissipated in each

resistor in the circuit of Figure
v1 = v2 + 10
v2 =-56/11 V
2 + 6v1 + 8v2 = 3v3
v3 = v2 + 2
i0 = 29.45 A
 Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
Applying mesh analysis to circuits containing current sources (dependent
or independent) may appear complicated.

1. When a current source exists only in one mesh: Consider

the circuit in above Figure, for example. We set A and write a
mesh equation for the other mesh in the usual way; that is,

𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13

𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 =
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 2. When a current source exists between two meshes:
Consider the circuit in Figure (a), for example. We
𝑥1 create a supermesh by excluding the current source
𝑥2 = and any elements connected in series with
𝑥3
it, as shown in Fig. 3.23(b). Thus,
 Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
• Mesh analysis applies KVL—which requires that we know the
voltage across each branch—and we do not know the voltage
across a current source in advance.
• However, a supermesh must satisfy KVL like any other mesh.
• Therefore, applying KVL to the supermesh in Figure (b) gives

Note the following properties of a supermesh:

1. The current source in the supermesh provides the constraint equation

necessary to solve for the mesh currents.
2. A supermesh has no current of its own.
3. A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL.
 Super Mesh
1. Use mesh analysis to determine i0 in circuit.

−120 + 40𝐼1 + 20 𝐼1 − 𝐼2 = 0 (1)

+60𝐼2 + 20 𝐼2 − 𝐼1 + 65 = 0 (2)

60𝐼1 − 20𝐼2 = 120 (3)

−20𝐼1 + 80𝐼2 = −65 (4)

 Problems
1. Find current i in the circuit of Figure below.

Ans: i=8.56 A
2. Use mesh analysis to obtain i1, i3, i2 in the circuit.

Ans: i1= 4.632 A, i2 =631.6 mA, i3 = 1.4736 A.

Thank You

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