CHAPTER 1: THREE-PHASE CIRCUITS

Objectives:
To explain the advantages of poly-phase
systems over single phase systems

To compare STAR & DELTA connection

To analyze a balanced three-phase system

To know the power calculations for STAR&

DELTA connected balance loads

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 1.0 Introduction

Electric power is generated, distributed, and used

as sinusoidal voltages and currents in a great
variety of commercial and domestic applications.

AC power systems have a great advantage over

DC systems in that their voltage levels can be
changed with transformers to reduce
transmission losses.

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 1.1 Three-phase System

A three-phase ac power system consists of three-

phase generators, transmission lines and loads.

Three-phase power source consists of three

voltages of equal magnitude but differing in
phase angle from the others by 120o.

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 Advantages of 3-phase system
An electric machine of a given weight is capable of
delivering more efficient power in 3-phase than in single
phase.

The power delivered to a three-phase load is constant at

all times, instead of pulsating as it does in single-phase
systems.

The use of three-phase motors results in lower

vibration and noise than single-phase motors

Voltage regulation of a 3-phase transmission line is

inherently better than single-phase transmission line.
3-phase power transmission is more efficient.

Rectification using 3-phase power source results in dc

with less ripple. 4
 1.2 The 3-phase Generators
Three-phase generator has three identical windings on the stator
They are placed at 120o as shown in Figure 1.1(a)
As the magnet rotates, sinusoidal voltages of same magnitude and
frequency are induced in each winding
The three voltages are out of phase by 120o as shown in Figure:
1.1(b)

Figure 1.1 5
Continued.

At any instant of time, the algebraic sum of the

three phase voltages of a three-phase generator is
zero.

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1.2.1 The Y Connected Generator

If the three terminals (denoted

N) of the three windings are
connected together, the
generator is referred to as a Y-
connected three-phase
generator. The point (N) at which
all the terminals are connected is
called the neutral point.

If a conductor is not attached

from this point to the load, the
system is called a Y-connected,
3-phase, 3-wire generator.

If the neutral is connected, the

system is a Y-connected, 3-
phase, 4-wire generator

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 The relationship between line voltage and phase voltage is given
below:
E AB 300 3E AN 300
C EBC 270 0 3E BN 270 0
C ECA 150 0 3ECN 150 0

E L 3E
8
 1.2.2 The Connected Generator

I BA I Aa I AC

I Aa I BA I AC I BA I CA

For phase sequence ABC, I Aa 3I BA 30 0

I Bb 3I CB 150 0
I Cc 3I AC 90 0
In general: I L 3I g with the phase angle between a
line current and the nearest phase current at 300.

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 1.3 Phase Sequence
Sequence a-b-c-a-b-c-a-b-c
abc=bca=cab

Sequence a-c-b-a-c-b-a-c-b
acb=cba=bac

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 1.3.1 Phasor diagram
The key to understanding three-phase is to understand the
phasor diagram for the voltages or currents. In the
diagram, a, b and c represent the three lines, and o
represents the neutral.

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 The red phasors are the line or delta voltages,
the voltages between the wires. The blue phasors
are the wye voltages, the voltages to neutral.
They correspond to the two different ways a
symmetrical load can be connected.

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 1.4 Wye -Connection / (Star-
connection)

Line to neutral voltage Ia

a
Van VP
Vbn VP 120
Van
Vab
Vcn VP 240 n Vbn

Ib Vca
b
Balanced system Vcn

Van Vbn Vcn 0 Vbc

Ic
c

13
Continued

Vab Van Vbn Ia

Van Van 120 a

Van 1 e j120 Van
Vab
Vbn
Van 3 30
n
Ib Vca
b
Vcn
Vbc and Vca can be calculated
similarly Vbc

Ic
c

14
Continued

The line to line voltages

V ab V an V bn V bc V bn V cn

V ca V cn V an

Vab Van 3 30
Vbc Vbn 3 30 Van 3 90
Vca Vcn 3 30 Van 3 210
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1.5 Delta Connection
For a balanced Delta-
connected system.
VL V where
VL Vab
VL Vbc
VL Vca

I L 3I where
I L I a I ba I ac
I L I b I cb I ba
I L I c I ac I cb
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1.6 Balanced 3 Phase () Systems
A balanced 3 phase () system has
three voltage sources with equal magnitude,
but with an angle shift of 120
equal loads on each phase
equal impedance on the lines connecting the
generators to the loads
Bulk power systems are almost exclusively
3
Single phase is used primarily only in low
voltage, low power ratings, such as
residential and some commercial loads
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 1.6.1 Wye- and Delta-Connected
Loads
a) Balanced Wye loads

Three wire system

Van Za

I g I L I L Vbn Vcn

V E Zc Z
b

E L 3V

18
Continued

A 3-phase load consists of 3 impedance

branches. The load is balanced if each branch has
the same impedance.

VL 3V
V VL
IL
Z 3Z

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 b) Balanced Delta loads V VL
I L 3I

VL V
V
I
Z

A balanced delta load acts like a balanced wye load with

ZY = Z / 3
which called the equivalent wye impedance.

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21
Delta-Wye Transformation
Proof

From the side we get

Vab Vca Vab Vca
Ia
Z Z Z
Vab Vca
Hence Z
Ia 22
Delta-Wye Transformation,
contd
From the Y side we get
Vab ZY ( I a I b ) Vca ZY ( I c I a )
Vab Vca ZY (2 I a I b I c )
Since Ia I b I c 0 I a I b I c
Hence Vab Vca 3 ZY I a
Vab Vca
3 ZY Z
Ia
1
Therefore ZY Z
3
23
1.7 Power Calculation for Y-connected
Balanced Loads

24
Continued

25
Continued

26
1.6 Power Calculation for -connected
Balanced Loads

27
28
Continued

Unity power factor : Meaning that S =P, which occurs

when Q=0 and = 0.
Lagging power factor : Meaning that the current phasor
lags the voltage phasor, Q>0
Leading power factor : Meaning that the current phasor
leads the voltage phasor, Q<0
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 Steps for answering questions:
Determine whether a Y or delta load
A) Y-load
Get the line voltage, phase voltage
Phase current = phase voltage/Z
3 (phase current) = line current
Calculation for the real, reactive,
apparent power.
Power factor can be related with
impedance,Z.

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b) Delta load
Get the line voltage, phase voltage
Phase current = phase voltage/Z (*if
there is no impedance for transmission
line*) or
phase current =phase voltage/(Z/3) (*when
there is no impedance for transmission
line*)
Z/3 = transform the delta impedance to wye
Calculate the real, reactive and apparent
power.
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