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For a simple RC circuit with a resistor and capacitor in series with a controlled voltage source, the derivation for the voltage across the capacitor and resistor is easy, i.e. substituting current \$I\$ as a derivative of charge \$Q\$ in and \$Q/C\$ for the capacitor then integration which leads to the equation

$$V_c = V_\text{source}\left(1-e^{-t/RC}\right)$$

and

$$V_r = V_\text{source}e^{-t/RC}$$

How would this equation change in case we don't have an ideal capacitor and ideal resistor? How would we come to this differential equation in this case? For example, the separation of ions in a fluid can be done by supplying low voltages which would act like a capacitor charging up and the separation of ions takes place and there is resistance inside the fluid itself. Both of them are unfortunately not ideal in this case.

ocrdu
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Ali Gillani
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    A general capacitor model can be found here: https://iequalscdvdt.com/cap_model.html (you can discard ESL and DA for your case.) But what are you trying to do? Do you have an oscilloscope at your disposition? – Rahmany Oct 13 '22 at 14:09
  • You could write a differential equation for your system, and then solve it – user253751 Oct 13 '22 at 14:21
  • How to determine the equation? Well that might take some experimentation. – user253751 Oct 13 '22 at 15:07
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    You need to define precisely how the capacitor and resistor are not ideal, and then model them using combinations of ideal components. Until you can do that there is no point in talking about equations. – Elliot Alderson Oct 13 '22 at 15:51
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    You would model the non-idealities with whatever model you want using a network of ideal components and solve the equation. – Justme Oct 13 '22 at 16:40
  • @Rahmany I am trying to model the Helmholtz double layer which in the simplest form is similar to a series RC circuit except the capacitor and resistor wont be ideal in this case. How can I define these or model them in the original equation. For example the behavior of the separation of ions in electrolysis acts has the same one as a charging capactior. But the external factors contribute in this case. – Ali Gillani Oct 14 '22 at 07:04

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The capacitor is a lumped element of different types of elements like a resistor, inductor, capacitor. Look at the capacitor model. The differential equations used to model a RC circuit use a ideal model of the capacitor such as its rate of charging and discharging is based on a exponential function. If the capacitor is non idealistic, then your existing model of the capacitor is invalid as the equations for a RC circuit assume a deterministic result of a pre-determined experiment and you may have to write new mathematical and physics models to suit a non ideal capacitor.

There should be some predictable behavior of the capacitor to write mathematical equations for it. If it is chaotic, creating a model for it may be difficult.

Amit M
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