3 phase a.c.

circuit
 Pre-requisite. .knowledge
• The.concept.of.leading/lagging.
• Comfort.with.phasors.
• The.concept.of. .’’potential.difference’
.and.’potential’.
• The.concept.of.Neutral.point.
• Kirchoff’s.voltage.law.and.current.law.
 3 phase a.c. circuit
is a connection of
3 phase voltage to 3 phase load.
Three phase symmetrical (balanced ) a.c. supply:
It is a set of 3 emfs of equal magnitude, same
frequency, same waveform, but there is 120 ° phase
difference between each other.
VR=Vm sin ωt, VY=Vm sin(ωt-120°), VB=Vmsin(ωt-240°)

VB

VB
VR

VR
VY t

VY
120o 120o
 Phase sequence :
It is the cyclic sequence by which the three voltages in
a 3 phase system attain identical phases—say, positive
peak values. In a 3 phase system, phase sequence can
be either RYB or RBY.

VR VY VB VR VY
VB

VR
t

VY
120o 120o
In this example, the phase sequence is R -Y - B
(which is same as Y - B- R and B - R – Y)
 Three phase balanced load:
It is a set of three identical impedances ( with same ohm value,
same pf and same nature of pf ) connected in star or delta or
such symmetrical configuration.
 Star connected circuit:
One terminal of each impedance is
connected together.
This common point is called as star point.
(Only for balanced circuit, this common
point is a Neutral point.)

Delta connected circuit:

Impedances are connected one after the
other like links in a chain. Final end of third
impedance is connected to open end of first
impedance to close the chain on itself i.e. to
form a closed loop.

Junction of every two impedances is

connected to supply terminal.
 Terminology in 3 phase circuit
• Line = wire connecting the source and the load
• Phase = each identical part of the load

• (How many of them?)

• Line voltage , line current

• Phase voltage, phase current

• (How many of them?)

• (How to ‘name’ them?
• What is their special feature? )
 Balanced star connected load :
IR
IR N R
VRY
3 phase IY VBR
ac IY N N IBN
supply Y B
IB VYB

o
Line current IL : IR IY IB All have same magnitude & 120
phase diff between each other.
Line voltage VL : VRY VYB VBR All have same magnitude , and 120 deg
phase difference between each other.

Phase current Iph : IR N IY N IBN All have same magnitude , and 120 deg
phase difference between each other.

Phase voltage VPh : VRN VYN VBN All have same magnitude , and 120 deg
phase difference between each other.
 Relation between line and phase parameters:
From the circuit diagram,
line current
At load terminal R, by KCL, R
incoming current = outgoing current Phase
current
Hence, =

Y B

If a wire is NOT connected between the load neutral point and

the supply neutral point, then-
By KCL at N point, algebraic sum (phasor sum) of currents =0
IRN+IYN+IBN=0
In a balanced circuit,
even if a wire is connected between N point and earth,
no current flows in the neutral wire i.e. IRN+IYN+IBN=IN =0
(This also indicates that both the N and the earth are at same potential i.e. 0V.)
But, in unbalanced load with a neutral wire IRN+IYN+IBN=IN is not equal to zero.
This also indicates that N has a nonzero potential. And that voltages VRN ,VYN , VBN are not equal .
Relation between line voltage and phase voltage
In a balanced system, star point is a neutral point
i.e. at any instant its potential is 0V. .R
Let VRN, VYN, VBN be the potentials
of points R, Y, B wrt N.
N

VRN=Vmsinwt Y .B
o
VYN=Vmsin(wt-120 )
o
VBN=Vmsin(wt-240 )
KVL equation for path RYNR,
VRY+ VYN +VNR =0

VRY+ VYN -VRN =0

VRY= VRN - VYN

 Substituting the expressions for VRN and VYN
o
VRY = Vm sinwt – Vm sin(wt-120 )
o o
=Vm sinwt – Vm sinwt cos120 + Vm coswt sin120

=Vm sinwt (1+1/2) + Vm coswt (√3/2)

=√3 Vm ((√3/2) sinwt +(1/2)coswt)

o
=√3 Vm sin(wt + 30 )

By comparing VRY and VRN,

Conclusion: line voltage = √3 phase voltage

And
o
phase difference between line voltage and phase voltage is 30
 Similarly, by applying KVL to path BRNB,

VBR = VBN – VRN

o o
=√3 Vm sin(wt + 30 -120 )

And, by applying KVL to path YBNY,

VYB = VYN – VBN

o o
=√3 Vm sin(wt + 30 - 240 )

Note that line voltages have equal magnitudes and

o
120 phase difference between each other.
Phasor diagram for voltages in a star connected load

V BN
VRY =VRN - VYN

V BR

VRN

V YN

V YB
 Balanced delta connected load :

IR

R
VRY VBR
IY
3 phase
AC Y VYB B
supply

IB

Line current IL : IR IY IB All have same magnitude , and 120 deg

phase difference between each other.
Line voltage VL : VRY VYB VBR All have same magnitude , and 120 deg
phase difference between each other.

Phase current Iph : IRY IYB IBR All have same magnitude , and 120 deg
phase difference between each other.
Phase voltage VPH : VRY VYB VBR All have same magnitude , and 120 deg
phase difference between each other.
 Relation between line voltage and phase voltage:

From the circuit diagram, as each impedance of the load is

connected between two line terminals, voltage across each
impedance
Hence, phase voltage = line voltage
Note that in the closed path of delta, By KVL , algebraic sum of voltages =0
VRY+VYB+VBR = 0
This is true for balanced load as well as unbalanced load.
There is no circulating current in the loop for balanced load.

Relation between line current and phase current

Let the three phase currents be-

IRY = Im sinwt
o
IYB = Im sin(wt-120 )
o
IBR = Im sin(wt-240 )
At line terminal R, by KCL,
Algebraic sum of currents =0.

At any instant,
IR(towards R) + IYR(towards R) + IBR(towards R) =0
IR = - IYR - IBR
i.e. IR = IRY – IBR

Substituting the expressions for IRY and IBR

o
IR = Im sinwt - Im sin(wt-240 )
o o
=Im sinwt – Im sinwt cos 240 + Im coswt sin 240

=Im sinwt (1+1/2) - Im coswt (√3/2)

=√3 Im ((√3/2) sinwt -(1/2)coswt)

o
=√3 Im sin(wt - 30 )
 By comparing IRY and IR ,

Conclusion: line current = √3 phase current

And
o
phase difference between line current and phase current is 30
 Similarly, by applying KCL to terminal Y,

IY = IYB – IRY
o o
=√3 Im sin(wt - 30 -120 )

And, by applying KCL to terminal B,

I B = IBR – IYB
o o
=√3 Im sin(wt - 30 - 240 )

Note that line currents have equal magnitudes and

o
120 phase difference between each other.
 IB
Phasor diagram for currents in a
delta connected load

I BR

I RY

IR
IY
I YB
Total active power delivered to the load
= active power in + active power in + active power in
phase 1 phase 2 phase 3
In a balanced system, all phase voltages are equal, all phase currents
are equal and pf in all phases are equal.

Hence total active power =

= 3 Vph Iph cosФ where cosФ is the pf of the load,
Ф is phase difference between
phase voltage and phase current
= √3 √3 Vph Iph cosФ
But , for star connected load, √3 Vph = VL and Iph = IL
and for delta connected load, √3 Iph = IL and Vph = VL

Hence, √3 √3 Vph Iph cosФ = √3 VL IL cosФ

Total active power delivered to the load = √3 . VL . IL . pf of load

 Phasor diagram for line voltages and phase voltages in
a star connected load

V BN

VRY
V BR
Phasor diagram for currents in
star connected load
φ
φ V RN
φ

V YB
V YN

If , in each phase, current lags voltage by φ deg.

 IB
Phasor diagram for currents in a
delta connected load

I BR

Phasor diagram for voltages in a

delta connected load

φ
I RY
φ

IY IR

I YB

In a lagging load, phase current lags the phase voltage by φ

 .
• 230V, 50 Hz, 3 phase ac voltage is applied to a
3 phase load.
• Find IL, Vph, Iph, total active power if the load is
(i) star connected (ii) delta connected
Tips:
Supply voltage = VL
Find Vph, Iph = Vph/Zph .
Find IL in the end from the relation between Iph
and IL. ( IL=VL/Zph)
 3 phase system
A set up for generating, transmitting,
distributing and consuming 3 phase electric
power. (Generally the load is also a 3 phase
load.)
 Advantages of 3 phase system
For same power transmission, smaller current in the lines.
a) Hence smaller thickness of conductor is required. 3 phase
transmission system is less costly.
b) I2R power loss in lines is smaller. Efficiency is higher.

In 1 phase system In 3 phase system

P L
O
lo
A
N
D
I= p/(V pf) I=P/( √3 V pf )

If P, V, pf are same , then -------------- Current I is smaller by a factor of

1/ √3
• In single phase system, the instantaneous power is not
constant, it is pulsating. In three phase system, the
instantaneous power is almost constant.
This helps to reduce generator and motor vibrations

P1 p2 p3
 P1 p2 p3

P1 p3 p2

t =0

v2 = ImZ sin(wt+ θ2 -12

v1 = ImZ sin(wt+ θ2) sin(wt+ θ2 -24
v3 = ImZ
i2 = Im sin(wt+θ1 -120)
i1 = Im sin(wt+θ1) i3 = Im sin(wt+θ1 -240)
 Advantage of 3 phase machines
• 3 phase induction motors are inherently self stating
because rotating magnetic field is readily produced.
• 3 phase motors are better than single phase motors
due to many advantages like small size and small cost for
same power rating. (Also, uniform torque, more
efficiency, more reliability, better pf.)
• 3 phase transformers have small cost and small weight
for same power as compared to a single phase
transformer.
3 phase alternator has smaller size weight and small cost
than a single phase alternator of the same power
output.
 From the same 3 phase source,

• Domestic power at single phase can be supplied

and industrial or commercial power at 3 phase can be supplied

• AC to DC power supplies need smaller capacitor i.e.filters to purify

the dc obtained from 3 phase supply than dc obtained from
single phase supply. Rectified three phase supply has lesser ripple factor.
3 phase ac generation
 A conductor

N Pole D B S Pole

C
Magnetic flux In general,
dφ/dt depends on perpendicular V cos Θ
component of velocity i.e. Vsinθ Θ
Hence, induced emf α sinθ
From A to C, sinθ is +ve. By Fleming’s
RH rule, front end of conductor is +ve.
V
From C to A, sinθ is - ve. By Fleming’s RH Vsin Θ
rule, front end of conductor is -ve.
Hence, the emf is alternating and its waveform is
An elementary 3 phase alternator has 3 conductors
o
with a positional difference of 120
 o
θ =0
R

N Pole S Pole

B Y
o
θ =240
o θ =120

In general,
In each conductor, induced emf α sin θ
V cos Θ
Θ
But at the beginning instant, θ for each conductor is different

Hence, at t=0, emf induced in the 3 conductors is different

V
The three emfs are-- In conductor R : Vm sinwt Vsin Θ
o
In conductor Y : Vm sin(wt-120 )
o
In conductor B : Vm sin (wt-240 )
END
 Comparison between star connection and delta connection

Advantages of delta connected load

1. With a certain supply voltage, a delta connected load has higher phase voltage,
phase current, line current and power taken than a star connected load with
identical impedances.
2.Parallel operation of delta connected unbalanced load is easier than that of a
star load.
3.Under unbalanced load condition, in a delta connected load, phase voltages do
not change. But in star connected load, the phase voltages become unequal.
A delta –delta connected transformer can operate in open delta when one phase is faulty

Advantages of delta connected alternator /transformer: If third harmonic voltages

are generated in an alternator: If the alternator is delta connected Then the harmonic
currents circulate in the delta loop. They do not appear in the lines currents.
 Advantages of star connected load

1. With a certain rated (line) voltage, a star connected load equipment requires less
conducting material, and insulation material. Hence, size and cost of the
machine is smaller.

Advantages of star connected alternator:

1. With actual emf E generated in each winding, a higher line voltage √3 E is
obtained. i.e. For a certain line voltage, the size and cost of the alternator is
smaller.
2. The common (‘star’) point is obtained which is inherently a neutral point
(with zero volt potential) in a balanced alternator
3. A star connected alternators with a N wire offers : 2 sets of different voltages
When the source (alternator or distribution transformer) is star connected,
a HV supply between lines and LV supply between phases can be obtained.
Response to harmonics:
Each copper section should have at least 1 Y for grounding.
Each iron section should have at least 1 delta for triplen harmonic
and unbalanced load current suppression.

a delta does a great job at handling triplen harmonic magnetizing current

(circulates it in its closed loop),
as well as maintaining balanced voltages when load currents are severely
unbalanced while using only 3 wires. A delta-delta xfmr using 3 single phase
units has the advantage that 1 unit can be removed for repair w/ the other 2
still providing balanced 3 phase service.
A delta is well suited for lower voltage high current venues.
• Without a delta winding, if a 3-wire Y-Y xfmr was observed, the secondary line-to-
neutral voltages would contain triplen harmonic distortion due to triplen flux. This
triplen flux is due to absence of triplen harmonic magnetizing current. Under 4-
wire connection (low Z neutral path provides easy path for triplen current), the
flux is fundamental w/o harmonics, triplen or otherwise. Without the neutral path
(open path), the equivalent circuit is normal operation with a negative triplen
current set injected onto the waveform. This model is perfectly valid and gives the
right answer. The objective is to suppress this negative triplen current or triplen
flux, either view works. If the secondary Y connection is modified to delta, the
triplen currents circulate inside the closed path of the delta. How does this
suppress triplen core flux? When secondary triplen current exists, the secondary
winding has a triplen mmf due to the triplen amp-turns. By the Law of Lenz the
polarity of the triplen mmf is counter to that of the primary magnetizing mmf. So
this delta triplen mmf tends to reduce the triplen flux component in the core. With
non-triplen secondary mmf, as soon as core flux gets reduced due to Lenz law, the
primary mmf (amp-turns) increases to counter the counter mmf. The increased
primary current due to secondary loading is "counter-counter-mmf". This happens
because non-triplen secondary load current can be amp-turn balanced by primary
mmf since non-triplen current can exist in a 3-wire Y. But when the delta
• A neutral connection becomes indispensable because of
following reasons :
Unbalanced operation leading to variation in voltage (as the
neutral is not earthed)
• Third harmonic voltage/current due to magnetizing
component is large , thereby distorting main flux
• to reduce the homonics that are created in star star type
connection whereas in star delta type connection hormonics
can circulate in delta so the hormonics that create in star is
neutralised in delta
• in star star, we need to have a neutral for sake of
balance loading. That means if a unbalance occurs in
loading, the extra current will pass to ground.
• harmonic distortion arises as a current,
converted by the load from fundamental
current. Harmonic voltage distortion results
when the harmonic current flows through
impedance so that, for example, at the point
of common coupling, a harmonic voltage is
developed across the supply impedance.
Harmonic problems are rarely caused by a
poor supply or by neighbouring facilities; the
causes are almost always to be found within
End
END
Before proceeding, Some more concepts about phasors : Consider one impedance in
any circuit
y A

x
Rms value of the voltage between A and B is V B
How do you name this voltage ? VAB ? Or VBA?
(The decision is easy only if either A or B is connected to earth i.e. it is always at 0V potential.)

At instant x, A is at higher potential when compared to B. and the pd is , say 5 V.

Then VAB = +5V But, VBA= - 5V
Note that VAB and VBA have same value but opposite signs at any instant in the cycle.

i.e. They have 180 deg phase difference.

Hence, their phasors are opposite to each other. VBA VAB

Further, If point B is at 0V potential and voltage VRN is Vmsinwt, it means, potential of

point R is +Vmsinwt (where Vmsinwt may be actually –ve as at a sample instant y)
Before proceeding, Some more concepts about phasors :
A

B
Let rms value of the voltage between A and B be V
V is an ac voltage. In a half cycle, A has higher potential as compared to B
In the next half cycle, A has smaller potential as compared to B
Let us assume that B is always at 0 V, (For example, when B is earthed ), then A is live.
It means, in a half cycle , A has +ve potential (changing sinusoidally) and
In the next half cycle, A has –ve potential (changing sinusoidally) Here, we indicate this pd VAB .

Some other person may like to assume that A is always at 0V and B is live.
It means, in the first half cycle mentioned above, B has - ve potential and
In the next half cycle, B has + ve potential. Here, the pd is indicated by VBA
Note that absolute value of VAB and VBA are same . . . . But the assumptions behind them are
opposite. Hence their signs are opposite. VBA VAB
Hence, their phasors are opposite to each other.
i.e. They have 180 deg phase difference.