Network Theory - Two-Port Networks

In general, it is easy to analyze any electrical network, if it is represented with an equivalent model, which gives the relation between input and output variables. For this, we can use two port network representations. As the name suggests, two port networks contain two ports. Among which, one port is used as an input port and the other port is used as an output port. The first and second ports are called as port1 and port2 respectively.

One port network is a two terminal electrical network in which, current enters through one terminal and leaves through another terminal. Resistors, inductors and capacitors are the examples of one port network because each one has two terminals. One port network representation is shown in the following figure.

Here, the pair of terminals, 1 & 1’ represents a port. In this case, we are having only one port since it is a one port network.

Similarly, two port network is a pair of two terminal electrical network in which, current enters through one terminal and leaves through another terminal of each port. Two port network representation is shown in the following figure.

Here, one pair of terminals, 1 & 1’ represents one port, which is called as port1 and the other pair of terminals, 2 & 2’ represents another port, which is called as port2.

There are four variables V₁, V₂, I₁ and I₂ in a two port network as shown in the figure. Out of which, we can choose two variables as independent and another two variables as dependent. So, we will get six possible pairs of equations. These equations represent the dependent variables in terms of independent variables. The coefficients of independent variables are called as parameters. So, each pair of equations will give a set of four parameters.

Two Port Network Parameters

The parameters of a two port network are called as two port network parameters or simply, two port parameters. Following are the types of two port network parameters.

• Z parameters
• Y parameters
• T parameters
• T’ parameters
• h-parameters
• g-parameters

Now, let us discuss about these two port network parameters one by one.

Z parameters

We will get the following set of two equations by considering the variables V₁ & V₂ as dependent and I₁ & I₂ as independent. The coefficients of independent variables, I₁ and I₂ are called as Z parameters.

$$V_1 = Z_{11} I_1 + Z_{12} I_2$$

$$V_2 = Z_{21} I_1 + Z_{22} I_2$$

The Z parameters are

$$Z_{11} = \frac{V_1}{I_1}, \: when \: I_2 = 0$$

$$Z_{12} = \frac{V_1}{I_2}, \: when \: I_1 = 0$$

$$Z_{21} = \frac{V_2}{I_1}, \: when \: I_2 = 0$$

$$Z_{22} = \frac{V_2}{I_2}, \: when \: I_1 = 0$$

Z parameters are called as impedance parameters because these are simply the ratios of voltages and currents. Units of Z parameters are Ohm (Ω).

We can calculate two Z parameters, Z₁₁ and Z₂₁, by doing open circuit of port2. Similarly, we can calculate the other two Z parameters, Z₁₂ and Z₂₂ by doing open circuit of port1. Hence, the Z parameters are also called as open-circuit impedance parameters.

Y parameters

We will get the following set of two equations by considering the variables I₁ & I₂ as dependent and V₁ & V₂ as independent. The coefficients of independent variables, V₁ and V₂ are called as Y parameters.

$$I_1 = Y_{11} V_1 + Y_{12} V_2$$

$$I_2 = Y_{21} V_1 + Y_{22} V_2$$

The Y parameters are

$$Y_{11} = \frac{I_1}{V_1}, \: when \: V_2 = 0$$

$$Y_{12} = \frac{I_1}{V_2}, \: when \: V_1 = 0$$

$$Y_{21} = \frac{I_2}{V_1}, \: when \: V_2 = 0$$

$$Y_{22} = \frac{I_2}{V_2}, \: when \: V_1 = 0$$

Y parameters are called as admittance parameters because these are simply, the ratios of currents and voltages. Units of Y parameters are mho.

We can calculate two Y parameters, Y₁₁ and Y₂₁ by doing short circuit of port2. Similarly, we can calculate the other two Y parameters, Y₁₂ and Y₂₂ by doing short circuit of port1. Hence, the Y parameters are also called as short-circuit admittance parameters.

T parameters

We will get the following set of two equations by considering the variables V₁ & I₁ as dependent and V₂ & I₂ as independent. The coefficients of V₂ and -I₂ are called as T parameters.

$$V_1 = A V_2 - B I_2$$

$$I_1 = C V_2 - D I_2$$

The T parameters are

$$A = \frac{V_1}{V_2}, \: when \: I_2 = 0$$

$$B = -\frac{V_1}{I_2}, \: when \: V_2 = 0$$

$$C = \frac{I_1}{V_2}, \: when \: I_2 = 0$$

$$D = -\frac{I_1}{I_2}, \: when \: V_2 = 0$$

T parameters are called as transmission parameters or ABCD parameters. The parameters, A and D do not have any units, since those are dimension less. The units of parameters, B and C are ohm and mho respectively.

We can calculate two parameters, A and C by doing open circuit of port2. Similarly, we can calculate the other two parameters, B and D by doing short circuit of port2.

T ’ parameters

We will get the following set of two equations by considering the variables V₂ & I₂ as dependent and V₁ & I₁ as independent. The coefficients of V₁ and -I₁ are called as T’ parameters.

$$V_2 = A' V_1 - B' I_1$$

$$I_2 = C' V_1 - D' I_1$$

The T’ parameters are

$$A' = \frac{V_2}{V_1}, \: when\: I_1 = 0$$

$$B' = -\frac{V_2}{I_1}, \: when\: V_1 = 0$$

$$C' = \frac{I_2}{V_1}, \: when\: I_1 = 0$$

$$D' = -\frac{I_2}{I_1}, \: when \: V_1 = 0$$

T’ parameters are called as inverse transmission parameters or A’B’C’D’ parameters. The parameters A’ and D’ do not have any units, since those are dimension less. The units of parameters, B’ and C’, are Ohm and Mho respectively.

We can calculate two parameters, A’ and C’, by doing an open circuit of port1. Similarly, we can calculate the other two parameters, B’ and D’, by doing a short circuit of port1.

h-parameters

We will get the following set of two equations by considering the variables V₁ & I₂ as dependent and I₁ & V₂ as independent. The coefficients of independent variables, I₁ and V₂, are called as h-parameters.

$$V_1 = h_{11} I_1 + h_{12} V_2$$

$$I_2 = h_{21} I_1 + h_{22} V_2$$

The h-parameters are

$$h_{11} = \frac{V_1}{I_1},\: when\: V_2 = 0$$

$$h_{12} = \frac{V_1}{V_2},\: when\: I_1 = 0$$

$$h_{21} = \frac{I_2}{I_1},\: when\: V_2 = 0$$

$$h_{22} = \frac{I_2}{V_2},\: when\: I_1 = 0$$

h-parameters are called as hybrid parameters. The parameters, h₁₂ and h₂₁, do not have any units, since those are dimension-less. The units of parameters, h₁₁ and h₂₂, are Ohm and Mho respectively.

We can calculate two parameters, h₁₁ and h₂₁ by doing short circuit of port2. Similarly, we can calculate the other two parameters, h₁₂ and h₂₂ by doing open circuit of port1.

The h-parameters or hybrid parameters are useful in transistor modelling circuits (networks).

g-parameters

We will get the following set of two equations by considering the variables I₁ & V₂ as dependent and V₁ & I₂ as independent. The coefficients of independent variables, V₁ and I₂ are called as g-parameters.

$$I_1 = g_{11} V_1 + g_{12} I_2$$

$$V_2 = g_{21} V_1 + g_{22} I_2$$

The g-parameters are

$$g_{11} = \frac{I_1}{V_1},\: when\: I_2 = 0$$

$$g_{12} = \frac{I_1}{I_2},\: when\: V_1 = 0$$

$$g_{21} = \frac{V_2}{V_1},\: when\: I_2 = 0$$

$$g_{22} = \frac{V_2}{I_2},\: when \: V_1 = 0$$

g-parameters are called as inverse hybrid parameters. The parameters, g₁₂ and g₂₁ do not have any units, since those are dimension less. The units of parameters, g₁₁ and g₂₂ are mho and ohm respectively.

We can calculate two parameters, g₁₁ and g₂₁ by doing open circuit of port2. Similarly, we can calculate the other two parameters, g₁₂ and g₂₂ by doing short circuit of port1.