Experiment

3-Phase Power Measurements 2

Objective
1) Measuring real, reactive and apparent power in three-phase circuits using the two-watt meter
method.
2) Calculation of the power factor in 3-phase circuits.

Discussion
The 3-phase electric power system is the common method of ac electric power transmission. In this
system three conductors carry three ac currents of the same frequency to a single target. The currents
have a phase difference of 120°, and it is this delay between "phases" that gives a constant power transfer
over each cycle of the current, “and also makes it possible to produce a rotating magnetic field in an electric
motor” (wikipedia).

The neutral wire allows the three phase system to provide a higher line-to-line voltage while still supporting
a lower line-to-neutral voltage. In high voltage distribution systems it is common not to have a neutral wire
while the loads can be simply connected between phases (line-to-line connection). Finally, three-phase
systems can produce a magnetic field that rotates in a specified direction, which simplifies the design of
electric motors.

Advantages of 3-phase transmission (J.D.Glover, 2002)

1) Transmitted instantaneous power is constant:
- the mechanical power at the generator is constant.
- the mechanical shaft torque at the generator is constant.
- reduced machine vibration.
2) Phase currents cancel each other out (or sum to zero in balanced systems). This eliminates the
need of or reduces the size of neutral wire.
3) Since there’s only one neutral wire needed, there’s less wires necessary than that for three circuits.
4) Less wires result in less resistance, i.e. less power loss P  I 2 R .
5) 3-phase systems produce a rotating magnetic field needed by electric machines.

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 Figure (2-1) Y-connected 3-phase system

A 3-phase source consists of three single-phase generators, all with equal voltage magnitudes but with a
120° phase difference.

Assuming that
Ean=V0° V, Ebn=V-120° V, Ecn=V-240° V

Figure (2-2) Phasor diagram (positive sequence)

The return current In, in the neutral wire is the sum of the three currents ( In=Ian+Ibn+Icn). If the three loads
are equal and the voltages are equal in magnitude but have a 120° phase difference, the system is a
balanced 3-phase system, ( In such a case In=0A).

Phase sequence
The phase sequence of a system “is the order in which the voltages in the individual phases peak”
(Chapman, 2005). The voltages of figure(2-2) are said to have a positive phase sequence, since the
voltages peak in the order a,b,c . However, in the voltages peak in the order a,c,b, the system is said to
have a negative sequence.

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Wye (Y)-Connection
Figure (2-1) shows a Y-connected three-phase generator with a positive sequence connected to a Y-
connected load. Looking at figure(2-1) it is obvious that in the case of the Y-connection “the current in any
line is the same as the current in the corresponding phase” (Chapman, 2005).

IL=I
In case of the voltages however
VLL=3V

The line voltages are also shifted 30° with respect to the phase voltages. Figure(2-3) the phasor diagram
and the voltage triangle of the line and phase voltages of the Y-connection.

Figure(2-3) Phasor diagram & voltage triangle, Y-connection

Delta ()-Connection

A -connected load and source is shown in figure(2-4) below. In this case the line and phase voltages are
equal, therefore,
VLL=V
The currents however,
IL=3I

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Figure(2-4) -connected source and load

Figure(2-5) Currents in a -connection

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 Y-Connection -Connection
Voltage magnitudes VLL=3V VLL=V
Current magnitudes IL=I IL=3I
abc phase sequence Vab leads Va by 30° Ia lags Iab by 30°
acb phase sequence Vab lags Va by 30° Ia leads Iab by 30°
Table(2-1) Relationships in Y and  connections

Power Calculations in 3-phase circuits

Phase Quantities Line Quantities
Average Power, P P  3V I  cos  P  3VLL I L cos 
Reactive Power, Q Q  3V I  sin  Q  3VLL I L sin 
Apparent Power, S S  3V I  S  3VLL I L
Table(2-2), Power calculations in 3-phase circuits (   V   I )

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Three-Phase Measurements
There are various ways to measure total power in a three phase system. Figures (2-6 and 2-7)
demonstrate two different ways to measure the total power in a 3-phase system.

The Two-Watt-Meter Method

Figure (2-6), Two-Watt-Meter Method, 3-phase measurement, Balanced or unbalanced connections (3, 3-conductors,  or )

Two-Watt-Meter Power Calculation:

Ptotal  P1  P2
3
S total  ( S1  S 2 )
2
P
PowerFacto r , pf  actual
S total

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The Three-Watt-Meter Method

Figure (2-7), 3-phase measurement, Balanced or unbalanced connections (3, 4-conductors)

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Procedure
Part 1, Y-Connected load
1. Using the instruments and components, connect the Y-circuit shown in Figure (2-8).

2. Set the load steps as shown in the results table below.

3. Turn on the power supply (and adjust to 380Vac)

4. Measure, record and calculate the required values of Table (2-3).

5. Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

Figure (2-8) Y-Connected load

VLL = 380V

Measured Values Calculated Values

Load
Step I1 I2 V P1 P2 S1 S2 PT ST pf
(A) (A) (V) (W) (W) (VA) (VA) (W) (VA) (lag/lead)
3
R
6
3-4
R-L
4-3
3-4
R-C
4-3
Table(2-4), -connected load, practical results.

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Part 2, -Connected load
1. Using the instruments and components, connect the -circuit shown in Figure (2-9).

2. Set the load steps as shown in the results table below.

3. Turn on the power supply (and adjust to 220Vac).

4. Measure, record and calculate the required values of Table (2-4).

5. Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

Figure (2-9), -Connected load

VLL = 220V

Measured Values Calculated Values

Load
Step I1 I2 V P1 P2 S1 S2 PT ST pf
(A) (A) (V) (W) (W) (VA) (VA) (W) (VA) (lag/lead)
3
R
6
3-4
R-L
4-3
3-4
R-C
4-3
Table(2-5), -connected load, practical results.

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Questions
3
1) Prove that when measuring 3-phase power (3-wire), ST  ( S1  S 2 ) ,
2

2) Use the results of the (R-L, 3-4, Y-connected) load in Table (2-4) to prove the relationship between the
phase and line voltages in the Y-connected circuit.

3) Use the values of Pt, IL and VL, of the (R-C, 4-3, -connected) load in Table (2-5) to
i) Calculate S and the pf.
ii) Compare the calculated values in (i) with the practical values (calculate % error).

4) A 3-phase motor draws a current of 10 Amperes on a 415 Volt line and p.f.=0.85 lagging.
i) Calculate the apparent power, S.
ii) Calculate the real power, P.
iii) Calculate the reactive power, Q.

References
1) Chapman, S.J., “Electric Machinery Fundamentals”, Third Edition, McGraw Hill, 1998.
2) Chapman, S.J., “Electric Machinery Fundamentals”, McGraw Hill, 2005.
3) Rayan, M., Al-Shaher, M., “Electric Machines Laboratory Manual”, Kuwait University, Summer
2000.
4) http://wikipedia.org/

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