THREE-PHASE CIRCUITS

PART I

AC GENERATOR
Single-phase AC generator - designed to generate a single
sinusoidal voltage for each rotation of the shaft (rotor).
Polyphase AC generator - designed to generate multiple outof-phase sinusoidal voltages for each rotation of the rotor by
increasing the number of coils on the stator.
The three-phase generator has three induction coils placed 120
apart on the stator.
The three coils have an equal number of turns.
the voltage induced across each coil will have the same
peak value, shape, and frequency.
the three sinusoidal voltages are out of phase by 120
Two types of configuration: Wye (Y) or Delta ()

SINGLE-PHASE AC GENERATOR

THREE-PHASE AC GENERATOR

FARADAYS LAW
The physical or experimental law governing the operation of
and AC generator.
The electromotive force (EMF) induced in a circuit is directly
proportional to the time rate of change of magnetic flux through
the circuit.
The EMF can either be produced by changing B (induced EMF)
or by changing the area, e.g., by moving the wire (motional
EMF).

It is the relative movement between the coil and the magnet

that matters.

THREE-PHASE VOLTAGE SOURCES

Y-connected Source

-connected Source
(uncommon)

BALANCED Y-CONNECTED VOLTAGE SOURCE

Balanced phase voltages are equal in magnitude and are out of
phase with one another by 120 degrees.
Van = V p 0o
Vbn = V p 120o
Vcn = V p 120o
Phase voltages sum up to zero, i.e., Van + Vbn + Vcn = 0
Two possible combinations:
Van = V p 0

Van = V p 0

Vbn = V p 120

Vbn = V p + 120

Vcn = V p 240

Vcn = V p + 240

abc (+)
positive phase sequence

acb ()
negative phase sequence

 Balanced line voltages are equal in magnitude and are out of

phase with one another by 120 degrees.
Vab = 3 V p30o
Vbc = 3 V p 90o
Vca = 3 V p 150o
Line voltages sum up to zero, i.e., Vab + Vbc + Vca = 0
The magnitude of line voltages is 3 times the magnitude of the
phase voltages.
Line voltages lead their corresponding phase voltages by 30

Y SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
Vab = 3 VY Y + 30o

Van = VY Y
Vbn = VY Y 120o
Vcn = VY Y 240o

Vbc = 3 VY Y 90o
Vca = 3 VY Y 210o

Y SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
Vab = V
Vbc = V 120o
Vca = V 240o

Van =

V
30o
3

Vbn =

V
150o
3

Vcn =

V
270o
3

BALANCED THREE-PHASE LOAD CONFIGURATIONS

A balanced load is one in which the phase impedances are equal
in magnitude and in phase.
Two possible configurations: Wye or Delta

Conversion from Y to or to Y
1
ZY = Z1 = Z 2 = Z 3 = Z
3

Z = Z a = Z b = Z c = 3Z Y

Ex. Practice problem 12.1

Given that Vbn = 11030o V, find Van and Vcn , assuming a
positive sequence.

THREE-PHASE CONNECTIONS
Both the three phase source and the three phase load can be
connected either Wye or DELTA.
We have 4 possible connection types.
1)

Y-Y connection

2) Y- connection
3) - connection
4) -Y connection
Balanced connected load is more common.
Y connected sources are more common.

BALANCED Y-Y CONNECTION

Ex. Calculate line currents in the three-wire Y-Y system shown.

Ex. Practice problem 12.2

A Y-connected balanced three-phase generator with an impedance
of 0.4+j0.3 per phase is connected to a Y-connected balanced
load with an impedance of 24+j19 per phase. The line joining
the generator and the load has an impedance of 0.6+j0.7 per
phase. Assuming a positive sequence for the source voltages and
that Van = 12030o V, find the line voltages and line currents.

BALANCED Y- CONNECTION

Ex. A balanced abc-sequence Y-connected source with phase

voltage Van = 10010o V is connected to a -connected
balanced load of 8+j4 per phase. Calculate the phase and the
line currents.

Ex. Practice problem 12.3

One line voltage of a balanced Y-connected source is
V AB = 240 20o V. If the source is connected to a -connected
load of 20 40o , find the phase and line currents assuming the
abc sequence.

BALANCED - CONNECTION

Ex. A balanced -connected load having an impedance of 20j15

is connected to a -connected, positive sequence generator
having Vab = 3300o V. Calculate the phase currents of the
load and the line currents.

Ex. Practice problem 12.4

A positive-sequence, balanced -connected source supplies a
balanced -connected load. If the impedance per phase of the load
is 18+j12 and I a = 19.20235o A, find I AB and V AB .

BALANCED -Y CONNECTION

Ex. A balanced Y-connected load with a phase impedance of

40+j 25 is connected to a balanced, positive sequence connected source with a line voltage of 210 V. Calculate the
phase currents. Use Vab as a reference.

Ex. Practice problem 12.5

In a balanced -Y circuit, Vab = 24015o V and ZY = 12 + j15 .
Calculate the line currents.