EE 132 1st Long Exam Answer key February 26, 2017

Part I. Problem solving

Problem 1
The power taken by an unbalanced, 3-phase load is measured by two wattmeters. The current coils of
the wattmeters are in lines 1 and 2 respectively. The potential coils of the wattmeters are connected to
lines 2 & 3 and 1 & 3 respectively, and each reads 230 volts. The current in lines 1 and 2 are 150 and
200 A respectively. The first wattmeter indicates 21.2 kW and the second indicates 18.1 kW.
a. What is the total power supplied to the load? Assume positive phase sequence.
b. What is the power factor of the load?
c. If the system utilizes a negative phase sequence, what is the total power supplied to the load?
𝑽𝟑𝟏
Solution:

Solving for , 𝑽𝟏𝟐

𝑰𝟐
𝟔𝟔 𝟖𝟑

𝑽𝟐𝟑 𝟓𝟐 𝟎𝟖 𝑰𝟏
𝑽𝟏𝟑

Now, there are two possible values for since would give us the same value regardless of the
sign.

Ideally, the angle of should be closer to . Refer to the phasor diagram.

Solving for ,

Similarly, there are also two possible values for

Ideally, the angle of should also be closer to . Refer to the phasor diagram.

New readings:

a) Total power,
EE 132 1st Long Exam Answer key February 26, 2017

b) Power factor of the system, (VOID)

𝑽𝟐𝟑 𝑽𝟏𝟑
𝑰𝟐 𝑰𝟏
c)
𝟓𝟐 𝟎𝟖
Solving for , 𝑽𝟏𝟐
𝟔𝟔 𝟖𝟑

𝑽𝟑𝟏

Now, there are two possible values for since would give us the same value regardless of the
sign.

Ideally, the angle of should be closer to . Refer to the phasor diagram.

Ideally, the angle of should also be closer to . Refer to the phasor diagram.

New readings:

Total power,
EE 132 1st Long Exam Answer key February 26, 2017

Problem 2
Refer to Figure 1. Given
a) Find the line currents .
b) Find the line current of the balanced three-phase load.
c) Find the combined vector power factor of the composite load.
d) Solve for the total line losses.
e) Solve for the complex power supplied by the source.
f) Suppose that two wattmeters are connected to load lines a’ and c’, with line b’ as the common line
for voltage measurement. Find the reading of each wattmeter.
g) If reactive volt-ampere meters replaced the two wattmeters in part (f), find their respective readings.
h) Suppose that a 25 hp 3–phase synchronous motor having an efficiency of 90% is installed at the load
side. This will be used to also improve the overall power factor of the combined 3-phase balanced
load and 3-phase motor load to 0.956 lagging. Calculate the kVA input rating of the synchronous
motor and the power factor at which it must operate.

0.01+j0.8 ohm
a'
a

15 kW
pf = 0.866 3-phase motor load
leading
M 90 hp, eff. = 85%
pf = 0.8 lagging
0.01 +j0.8 ohm
b'
b

7.68 kVAR
pf = 0.80
lagging
6 kW 3-phase
pf =0.707 balanced load
leading 4 kVA
pf = 0.8 leading

0.01+j0.8 ohm
c
c'

Solution:

Solve the currents of each load.

Va’b’
For the 3-phase motor load,
Vc’n
Vc’a’ Va’n
| |
√ | | √

Vb’n
Vb’c’
EE 132 1st Long Exam Answer key February 26, 2017

For the 3-phase balanced load,

| |
√ | | √
IM

For load 1 connected at lines a’ & b’,

IM

| | IM
| |

For load 2 connected at lines b’ & c’,

| |
| |

For load 3 connected at lines c’ & a’,

IBL

| | IBL
| |

IBL
a) For the line currents,

I1
I3

A
I2

b)

c)
EE 132 1st Long Exam Answer key February 26, 2017

d)

e)

kVA Icc’
Vc’b’ Va’b’
f) (220)( )

Vc’a’ Iaa’

(220)( )

Vb’c’

Vcb
g) Refer to the adjacent figure.
Vcn Ic
Vca
𝑄 𝑉𝑎𝑏 𝐼𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃𝑣 𝜃𝑖 𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 Vab
θ

𝑄 𝑉𝑎𝑏 𝐼𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃𝑣 𝜃𝑖 𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑖 √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 Van

θ
Ib
𝑄 𝑉𝑐𝑏 𝐼𝑐 𝜃𝑣 𝜃𝑖 Ia
Vbn
0
𝑄 𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑖 Vbc

To solve for the total reactive power , add Q1 and Q2,

(220)( )

(220)( )

h) kVA
EE 132 1st Long Exam Answer key February 26, 2017

Psync

Qsync
Qold Ssync

Psync Qnew
Pold
P
Pnew

= (82.188+20.722)

Therefore, the synchronous generator should operate at

Bonus. Discussion
1. What are the advantages of having a 3-phase power system instead of a single-phase power system?
2. What do you think is the reason why we’re using AC system instead of DC system in majority of our
transmission and distribution lines?

“A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.”
-Bruce Lee