Tellegen's theorem

Tellegen's theorem is one of the most powerful theorems in network theory. Most of the energy distribution theorems and extremum principles in network theory can be derived from it. It was published in 1952 by Bernard Tellegen. Fundamentally, Tellegen's theorem gives a simple relation between magnitudes that satisfy Kirchhoff's laws of electrical circuit theory.

The Tellegen theorem is applicable to a multitude of network systems. The basic assumptions for the systems are the conservation of flow of extensive quantities (Kirchhoff's current law, KCL) and the uniqueness of the potentials at the network nodes (Kirchhoff's voltage law, KVL). The Tellegen theorem provides a useful tool to analyze complex network systems including electrical circuits, biological and metabolic networks, pipeline transport networks, and chemical process networks.

The theorem
Consider an arbitrary lumped network that has $$b$$ branches and $$n$$ nodes. In an electrical network, the branches are two-terminal components and the nodes are points of interconnection. Suppose that to each branch we assign arbitrarily a branch potential difference $$W_{k}$$ and a branch current $$F_{k}$$ for $$k=1,2,\dots,b$$, and suppose that they are measured with respect to arbitrarily picked associated reference directions. If the branch potential differences $$W_{1},W_{2},\dots,W_{b}$$ satisfy all the constraints imposed by KVL and if the branch currents $$F_{1},F_{2},\dots,F_{b}$$ satisfy all the constraints imposed by KCL, then


 * $$\sum_{k=1}^{b} W_{k} F_{k} = 0.$$

Tellegen's theorem is extremely general; it is valid for any lumped network that contains any elements, linear or nonlinear, passive or active, time-varying or time-invariant. The generality is extended when $$W_{k}$$ and $$F_{k}$$ are linear operations on the set of potential differences and on the set of branch currents (respectively) since linear operations don't affect KVL and KCL. For instance, the linear operation may be the average or the Laplace transform. More generally, operators that preserve KVL are called Kirchhoff voltage operators, operators that preserve KCL are called Kirchhoff current operators, and operators that preserve both are simply called Kirchhoff operators. These operators need not necessarily be linear for Tellegen's theorem to hold.

The set of currents can also be sampled at a different time from the set of potential differences since KVL and KCL are true at all instants of time. Another extension is when the set of potential differences $$W_{k}$$ is from one network and the set of currents $$F_{k}$$ is from an entirely different network, so long as the two networks have the same topology (same incidence matrix) Tellegen's theorem remains true. This extension of Tellegen's Theorem leads to many theorems relating to two-port networks.

Definitions
We need to introduce a few necessary network definitions to provide a compact proof.

Incidence matrix: The $$n\times b$$ matrix $$\mathbf{A_a}$$ is called node-to-branch incidence matrix for the matrix elements $$a_{ij}$$ being



a_{ij}= \begin{cases} 1, & \text{if current in branch } j \text{ leaves node } i \\ -1, & \text{if current in branch } j \text{ enters node } i \\ 0, & \text{otherwise} \end{cases} $$

A reference or datum node $$P_0$$ is introduced to represent the environment and connected to all dynamic nodes and terminals. The $$(n-1)\times b$$ matrix $$\mathbf{A}$$, where the row that contains the elements $$a_{0j}$$ of the reference node $$P_{0}$$ is eliminated, is called reduced incidence matrix.

The conservation laws (KCL) in vector-matrix form:


 * $$ \mathbf{A} \mathbf{F}= \mathbf{0} $$

The uniqueness condition for the potentials (KVL) in vector-matrix form:


 * $$ \mathbf{W} = \mathbf{A^{T}} \mathbf{w} $$

where $$ w_{k} $$ are the absolute potentials at the nodes to the reference node $$P_{0}$$.

Proof
Using KVL:



\begin{align} \mathbf{W^T} \mathbf{F} = \mathbf{(A^{T} w)^T} \mathbf{F} = \mathbf{(w^{T} A)} \mathbf{F} = \mathbf{w^{T} A F} = \mathbf{0} \end{align} $$

because $$ \mathbf{A F} = \mathbf{0} $$ by KCL. So:


 * $$\sum_{k=1}^{b} W_{k} F_{k} = \mathbf{W^T} \mathbf{F} = 0$$

Applications
Network analogs have been constructed for a wide variety of physical systems, and have proven extremely useful in analyzing their dynamic behavior. The classical application area for network theory and Tellegen's theorem is electrical circuit theory. It is mainly in use to design filters in signal processing applications.

A more recent application of Tellegen's theorem is in the area of chemical and biological processes. The assumptions for electrical circuits (Kirchhoff laws) are generalized for dynamic systems obeying the laws of irreversible thermodynamics. Topology and structure of reaction networks (reaction mechanisms, metabolic networks) can be analyzed using the Tellegen theorem.

Another application of Tellegen's theorem is to determine stability and optimality of complex process systems such as chemical plants or oil production systems. The Tellegen theorem can be formulated for process systems using process nodes, terminals, flow connections and allowing sinks and sources for production or destruction of extensive quantities.

A formulation for Tellegen's theorem of process systems:


 * $$ \sum_{j=1}^{n_{P}} W_{j}\frac{\operatorname{d}Z_{j}}{\operatorname{d}t} = \sum_{k=1}^{b} W_{k} f_{k} + \sum_{j=1}^{n_{P}} w_{j} p_{j} + \sum_{j=1}^{n_{t}} w_{j} t_{j},\quad j=1,\dots,n_{p}+n_{t} $$

where $$p_{j}$$ are the production terms, $$t_{j}$$ are the terminal connections, and $$\frac{\operatorname{d}Z_{j}}{\operatorname{d}t}$$ are the dynamic storage terms for the extensive variables.