Three-Phase Circuits

By Hani Yasinta

Differences Between Singlephase and Three-phase circuits

By rotating magnetic field through the
conductors of stationary coil(s) , alternating
voltage can be produced.

Three-phase Vs.Single-phase
Power?
1. The horsepower rating of three-phase motors and the
kilovolt-ampere rating of three-phase transformers are
about 150% greater than for single-phase motors or
transformers with a similar frame size.

2. The power delivered by a single-phase system pulsates. The

power falls to zero three times during each cycle. The power
delivered by a three-phase circuit pulsates also, but it never
falls to zero. In a three-phase system, the power delivered
to the load is the same at any instant. This produces
superior operating characteristics for three-phase motors.
3. In a balanced three-phase system, the conductors need be
only about 75% the size of conductors for a single-phase
two-wire system of the same kilovolt-ampere (kVA) rating.
This savings helps offset the cost of supplying the third
conductor required by three-phase systems.

The basic
Threephase
connectio
ns are :

Wye
(Y) /
Star

Delta

WYE/STAR
CONNECTION

Is made by connecting one

end of each of the phase
windings together in a
common node.

The line
voltage is
measured from
phase
conductor to a
different phase
conductor

Each phase
winding has a
voltagae drop
known as the
phase voltage

Common
node, no
voltage

In a wye-connected system, the line voltage is higher

than the phase
voltage by a factor
of the square root of 3 (1.732).

In a wye-connected system, phase current and line

current
are
the same

cn

- V

bn

ab

30

V
V

bn

V
V

an

ab

= V

ab

= 3 V

an

- V
an

bn

30o

Vab Van Vbn

| V p | 0 | V p | 120

| V p | 1 (cos120 j sin 120)

1
3

j
2
2
3 | V p | 30
| V | p | V p |

Vbc 3 | V p | 90
Vca 3 | V p | 210

VL 3 | V p | Line Voltage

Vector sum of the voltages in a threephase wye

connection.

DELTA CONNECTION

Is made by connecting each of the

phase windings together to form a
delta formation.

In a wye-connected system, the line current is higher

than the phase
current by a factor
of the square root of 3 (1.732).

In a wye-connected system, phase voltage and line

voltage
are
the same

Three-phase Power, Watts &

VARs
Three-phase power can be computed using line
values or phase values.
VA = 3 x ELine x ILine
VA = 3 x EPhase x IPhase

Computing watts requires using the power factor

(PF).
P = 3 x ELine x ILine x PF
P = 3 x EPhase x IPhase x PF

Three-phase VARs can be computed in a similar

manner, except that voltage and current values of a pure reactive load are
used

Question
A delta-connected alternator is connected to a
wye-connected resistive load. The alternator
produces a line voltage of 240 V and the
resistors have a value of 6 each. Find the
following values:
a) line voltage of the load
b) phase voltage of the load
c) phase current of the load
d) line current to the load
e) line current delivered by the alternator
f) phase current of the alternator
g) phase voltage of the alternator
h) true power

Solution
a) 240 volt
b) 240 / 1.732 = 138.57 volt
c) I = V/Z = 138.57 / 6 = 23.09 A
d) 23.09 A
e) 23.09 A
f) I(phase) = I(load) / 1.732 = 23.09 / 1.732 =
13.33 A
g) 240 volt
h) P = 1.732 x E(load) x E(line) x PF
P = 1.732 x 240 x 23.09 x 1
P = 9598.05 watt

The End