Polyphase A.C.

Circuits

Polyphase A.C.Circuits

Poly-Phase Systems
Many phases
Multiple phases
produces a smoother
electrical power

Why Use 3 Phase Power?:

Easy to Generate
Provides Constant
Instantaneous Power
to Load
Uses Fewest Wires to
Deliver Constant
Instantaneous Power

Advantages of three phase system

In single phase system ,the instantaneous power is
fluctuating in nature. However in in three phase system it
is constant at all times.
The o/p of three phase system is greater than single
phase system.
Transmission and distribution of three phase system is
cheaper than that of single phase system.

Three phase motors are more efficient and have higher

power factor than single phase motors.
Three phase motors are self starting whereas single
phase motors are not self starting.

Generation of Three Ph.Voltages

Three phase voltages are generated by a generator.
Three sets of independent windings which are
physically spaced 120 degrees around the
stator.
Voltages are labeled phase R, phase Y, and
phase B are of same magnitude but differ in phase
angle by 120 degrees.

THREE PHASE
GENERATION

FARADAYS LAW
Three things must be present in order to
produce electrical current:
a) Magnetic field
b) Conductor
c) Relative motion
Conductor cuts lines of magnetic flux, a
voltage is induced in the conductor
Direction and Speed are important

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is parallel to the flux.
No voltage is induced.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is 45 to flux.
Induced voltage is 0.707 of maximum.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is perpendicular to flux.
Induced voltage is maximum.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is 45 to flux.
Induced voltage is 0.707 of maximum.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is parallel to flux.
No voltage is induced.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Notice current in the
conductor has reversed.

Motion is 45 to flux.
Induced voltage is
0.707 of maximum.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is perpendicular to flux.
Induced voltage is maximum.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is 45 to flux.

Induced voltage is 0.707 of maximum.

GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S

N
Motion is parallel to flux.
No voltage is induced.
Ready to produce another cycle.

GENERATOR WORK
The generator consists of a rotating magnet
(rotor) surrounded by a stationary winding
(stator).
Three separate windings or coils with
terminals a-a, b-b, and c-c are physically
placed 120 apart around the stator.

 As the rotor rotates, its magnetic field cuts the

flux from the three coils and induces voltages
in the coils.
The induced voltage have equal magnitude
but out of phase by 120.

GENERATION OF THREE-PHASE AC
S
x

THREE-PHASE WAVEFORM
Phase 1

120

Phase 2

Phase 3

120

120

240

Phase 2 lags phase 1 by 120.

Phase 3 lags phase 1 by 240.

Phase 2 leads phase 3 by 120.

Phase 1 leads phase 3 by 240.

GENERATION OF 3 VOLTAGES
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

S
x

Phase 1 is ready to go positive.

Phase 2 is going more negative.
Phase 3 is going less positive.

Waveforms

Phase sequence

Interconnection of three phases

Star Connection or Wye Connections
The wye, or star, connection is made by
connecting same end of each of the phase
windings together in a common node.
Delta Connection or Mesh Connection
Dissimilar ends of three phase windings are
joined together to form closed loop.

THREE PHASE QUANTITIES

QUANTITY

SYMBOL

Phase current

Iph

Line current

IL

Phase voltage

Vph

Line voltage

VL

BALANCED VOLTAGE AND LOAD

Balanced Phase Voltage: all phase voltages
are equal in magnitude and are out of phase
with each other by 120.
Balanced Load: the phase impedances are
equal in magnitude and in phase.

PHASE VOLTAGES and LINE VOLTAGES

Phase voltage is measured between the
neutral and any line: line to neutral voltage
Line voltage is measured between any two of
the three lines: line to line voltage.

PHASE CURRENTS and LINE

CURRENTS

Line current (IL) is the current in each line of

the source or load.
Phase current (I) is the current in each
phase of the source or load.

Definitions
Phase sequence-The sequence in which the voltages in three phases
reach their maximum positive value is called phase sequence
Phase voltage-The voltage induced in each winding is called phase
voltage.
Phase current-The current flowing through each winding is called phase
current.
Line voltage-The voltage available between any pair of terminals or lines
is called line voltage.
Line current-The current flowing through each line is called line current
Balanced system-A three phase system is said to be balanced if
1.The voltages in three phases are equal in magnitude and differ in phase
from one another by 120 degrees.
2.The currents in three phases are equal in magnitude and differ in phase
from one another by 120 degrees.
3.The loads connected across the three phases are identical i.e all the loads
have same magnitude and power factor.

Comparison between star and delta connection

Star connection

Delta connection

VL= 3 Vph

VL= Vph

IL= Iph

IL= 3 Iph

Line voltage leads the

respective phase
voltage by 30 degrees

Line current lags the

respective phase current by
30 degrees

Power in star connection

is one third of power in
delta connection

Power in delta connection is

three times of power in star
connection

Three phase ,three wire

and three phase four
wire systems are
possible.

Only three phaes three wire

system is possible

The phasor sum of all

the phase currents is
zero.

The phasor sum of all the

phase currents is zero.