CHAPTER SIX

POLY PHASE AC SYSTEMS

Prepared by Nigatu A.

Arba Minch University

Electrical Engineering Department

An ac generator designed to develop a single sinusoidal voltage for each rotation of the shaft (rotor) is referred to as a single-phase ac generator. If the number of coils on the rotor is increased in a specified manner, the result is a poly-phase ac generator and so that there are multiple induced voltages to be generated.

Introduction

THREE PHASE SYSTEM

The three-phase system is used by almost all commercial electric generators. Three-phase generators simultaneously produce three sinusoidal voltages that are separated by 1200 constant phase angles. This three-phase generation is accomplished by three windings rotating through a magnetic field. The number of phase voltages that can be produced by a polyphase generator is not limited to three. Any number of phases can be obtained by spacing the windings for each phase at the proper angular position around the stator

Three-Phase Voltage Generation

Three-phase generators have three sets of windings(induction coils) and thus produce three ac voltages instead of one. The three-phase generator of Fig. 6.1(a has three induction coils placed 120 apart on the stator, as shown symbolically by Fig.6.1(b. Since these three windings are identical, and each coil rotates with the same angular velocity, the voltage induced across each coil will have the same peak value, shape, and frequency.

FIG. 6.1 (a) Three-phase generator; (b) induced voltages of a three-phase generator.

Contd
As the shaft of the generator is turned by some external means, the induced voltages eAN, eBN, and eCN will be generated simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 6.2.

FIG. 6.2
(a) Phase voltages of a three-phase generator.

(b) Phasor diagram for the phase voltages of a three-phase generator.

Contd
However, since coil BN is placed 120 behind coil AN, voltage eBN lags eAN by 120; similarly, coil CN, which is placed ahead of coil AN by 120, produces voltage eCN that leads by 120.
The sinusoidal expression for each of the induced voltages in time domain (from fig.6.2. (a)) is:

The phasor diagram of the induced voltages is shown in Fig. 6.2.(b), where the effective value of each is determined by

The sinusoidal expression for each of the induced voltages in phasor domain.

TYPES OF THREE-PHASE GENERATORS

Two types of three-phase generators: The Y-connected generator The Delta-connected generator

THE Y-CONNECTED GENERATOR

A Y-connected system can be either a three-wire or, when the neutral is used, a four-wire system, as shown in Figure 6.3, connected to a generalized load.

Figure 6.3 Y-connected generator.

Note: The point at which all the terminals are connected is called the neutral point The voltages across the generator windings are called phase voltages (V), and the currents through the windings are called phase currents (I). Also, the currents in the lines connecting the generator windings to the load are called line currents (Il), and the voltages across the lines are called the line voltages (Vl). Note that the magnitude of each line current is equal to the corresponding phase current in the Y-connected circuit. When the loads are perfectly balanced, the neutral current is zero; therefore, the neutral conductor is unnecessary. Notice that the phase voltages are always positive at the terminal end of the winding and are negative at the neutral point.

IMPORTANT POINT FOR Y-CONNECTED SYSTEM!!!

1) For the Y-connected system, the line current equals the phase current for each phase; that is,
..6.1

Where is used to denote a phase quantity and g is a generator parameter. 2) The magnitude of the line voltage of a Y-connected generator is root-three times the phase voltage: that is
..6.2

Lets prove the above equation 6.2. Consider the following phasor diagram for the phase voltages, showing the Line and phase voltages of the Y-connected generator. NOTE: EAB , ECA, and EBC are line voltages Whiles, EAN, ECN and EBN are phase voltages.

Figure 6.4
(a) Line and phase voltages of the Y-connected three-phase generator (b) Determining a line voltage for a three-phase generator.

By applying KVL for the indicated loop;

 From fig.6.4. (b), the length x is;

Therefore, In words, the magnitude of the line voltage of a Y-connected generator is 3 times the phase voltage, with the phase angle between any line voltage and the nearest phase voltage at 30. In sinusoidal notation;

 The phasor diagram of the line and phase voltages is shown in Fig.6.5, below; From phasor diagrams you can see that, the phase angle between any line voltage and the nearest phase voltage at 30.

Figure 6.5 Phasor diagram of the line and phase voltages of a three-phase generator;

NOTE: The first subscript is, by definition, positive with respect to the second for a voltages.

THE (DELTA)-CONNECTED GENERATOR

Each phase is connected between two lines, as shown below; and the system is referred to as 3-, 3-wire, delta-connected ac generator.

Figure 6.6

Where IBA, ICB and IAC are phase current IAa, IBb and ICc are line current EAB, EBC, and ECA are line voltage EAN, EBN, and ECN are phase voltage

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR DELTA CONNECTED GENERATOR

1) The phase and line voltages are equivalent and equal to the voltage induced across each coil of the generator; that is,

2)

It can be shown that; The magnitude of the line current is equal to 3 times the phase current: that is:

In phasor,

Where; IAa, IBb, and ICc, are the line currents.

The phasor diagram of the currents is shown in Fig.6.7, below.

Figure 6.7

Note: the phase angle between a line current and the nearest phase current at 30. The method used to find the phase-sequence is the same as that described for the line voltages of the Y-connected generator. In this book, use ABC phase-sequence.

Example
1) The phase sequence of the Y-connected generator in Fig.6.8, is ABC. a) Find the phase angles 2 and 3. b) Find the magnitude of the line voltages. c) Determine the magnitude of each line voltage, and draw the phasor diagram.

Fig.6.8

Example:
2) The three-phase -connected generator represented in Fig. 6.9, is driving a balanced load such that each phase current is 10 A in magnitude. When lBA= 10 A < 30, determine the following:

a) The polar expressions for the other phase currents b) The polar expressions for each of the line currents c) The complete current phasor diagram

Fig.6.9