EET 2166 Chapter 1: Three-phase circuits

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 balance three-phase system
To know the power calculation for STAR & DELTA connected balance loads

1.0 Introduction
Electric power is generated, distributed, and used as sinusoidal voltages and currents in a great
variety of commercial and domestic applications. Furthermore, in the industrial world a vast number of
small-, medium-, or large-size ac power generators and loads are interlinked. Therefore, the design,
operation, maintenance, and management of such systems very much depend on a good understanding of
ac circuit theory.

1.0.1 Generation of 2 phase voltages

Consists of two windings on the stator and are placed at 90o to each other as shown in
Figure: 1.0
As the magnet rotates, sinusoidal voltages of same magnitude and frequency are induced in each winding

The two voltages are out of phase by 90o as shown in Figure: 1.1

Figure: 1.0 Schematic diagram of a two-phase generator

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Figure: 1.1 Voltages induced in a 2-phase generator

1.1 Three-phase system

Electric power is generated, transmitted and distributed in the form of three-phase power. At the
power station an electrical generator converts mechanical power into a set of alternating electric currents,
one from each electromagnetic coil or winding of the generator. The currents are sinusoidal functions of
time, all at the same frequency but with different phases. Three-phase power consists of a triad voltages
spread equally by 120o. The frequency is typically 50Hz in Europe and 60Hz in the US.

Advantages of a three-phase system:

a) An electric machine of a given weight is capable of delivering more efficient power in poly-phase
than in single phase.
b) The power delivered to a three-phase load is constant at all times, instead of pulsing as it does in
single-phase systems.
c) The continuous three-phase power has lower vibration and noise
d) Voltage regulation of a poly-phase transmission lines is inherently better.
e) Three-phase power source can be easily rectified for dc.

1.2 Three Phase Analysis and Power Calculation

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Three-phase systems differ from single-phase systems in that they use a set of three voltages instead
of one. Three-phase systems are used for the generation and transmission of bulk electric power. To get
single-phase ac from a three-phase system, we simply tap off one of its phases. Three-phase systems may be
balanced or unbalanced. If a system is balanced, it can be analyzed by considering just one of its phases.
Since most systems operate close to balance, many practical problems can be dealt with by assuming
balance. Three-phase systems possess economic and operating advantages over single-phase systems.

1.3 The Three-Phase Generator

Three-phase generators have three sets of windings and thus produce three ac voltages instead of one. The
three-phase generator has three induction coils placed 1200 apart on the rotor (armature). Since the three
coils have an equal number of turns, and each coil rotates with the same angular velocity, the voltage
induced across each coil will have the same peak value, shape, and frequency.

eAN

eBN
eCN

At any
instant
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EET 2166 Chapter 1: Three-phase circuits

of time, the algebraic sum of the three phase voltages of a three-phase generator is zero.
EAN = Em(AN) sin t = EAN 00
0
EBN = Em(BN) sin (t - 120 ) = EBN -1200
ECN = Em(CN) sin (t - 2400) = Em(CN) sin (t + 1200) = ECN +1200

EAN

ECN EBN

The phasor sum of the phase voltages in a three-phase system is zero. That is,
( E AN + E BN + E CN ) = 0
1.4 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 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, three-phase, three-wire generator. It the neutral is connected, the system is a Y-connected, three-
phase, four-wire generator.

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For the Y-connected system, the line current equals the phase current for each phase, that is,
I L = I
The voltage from one line to another is called a line voltage.

Applying KVL,
E AB = E AN + E NB = E AN E BN

The relationship between line voltage and phase voltage is given below:
= E AB 30 0 = 3E AN 30 0
C = E BC 270 0 = 3 E BN 270 0
C = E CA 150 0 = 3E CN 150 0

In words, the magnitude of the line voltage of a Y-connected generator is 3 times the phase voltage:
E L = 3E
with the phase angle between any line voltage and the nearest phase voltage at 30.

ECA

EBC

EAB

The sum of the line voltages is also zero; that is,

( E AB + E BC + E CA ) = 0
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1.5 Phase Sequence (Y-Connected Generator)

The phase sequence can be determined by the order in which the phasors representing the phase
voltages pass through a fixed point on the phasor diagram if the phasors are rotated in a counterclockwise
direction. The phase sequence can also be described in terms of the line voltages. In this case, the sequence
can be determined by noting the order of the passing first or second subscripts.

If the sequence is given, the phasor diagram can be drawn by simply picking a reference voltage, placing it
on the reference axis, and then drawing the other voltages at the proper angular position.

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1.6 The Y-connected Generator with a Y-connected Load

If the load is balance, the neutral can be removed without affecting the circuit in any manner, that is, if
Z1 = Z2 = Z3, then IN will be zero.

The following expressions are valid for Y-connected generator with Y-connected load:
I g = I L = I L
V = E
E L = 3V

1.7 The Y- System

There is no neutral connection for the Y- system. For a balanced load, Z1 = Z2 = Z3.

The following expressions are valid for Y-connected generator with -connected load:
V = E L
I L = 3I

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1.8 The -Connected Generator

For a three-phase, three-wire, -connected ac generator, the phase and line voltages are equivalent
and equal to the voltage induced across each coil of the generator; that is,
E AB = E AN , E BC = E BN , E CA = E CN ........ i. e..... E L = E g

The relationship between line current and phase current can be found by applying KCL at one of the
nodes and solving for the line current in terms of the phase currents; that is, at node A,
I BA = I Aa + I AC
or, 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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The sum of the line currents is also zero; that is,

( I BA + I CB + I AC ) = 0

1.9 Phase Sequence (-Connected Generator)

It is standard practice to describe the phase sequence in terms of the line voltages. For a phase
sequence ABC, the line voltages are,
= E AB 0 0
C = E BC 120 0
CA = E CA 120 0

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1.10 Power Calculation for Y-Connected Balanced Load

Average power: The average power delivered to each phase can be determined as,
2
V R2
P = V I cos = I R = (watts, W)
R
where, is the phase angle between V and I.

The total power to the balanced load is

2 V R2
PT = 3 P = 3V I cos = 3I R = 3 (W)
R

EL
or, since V = and I = I L
3

then PT = 3E L I L cos = 3I L2 R (W)

Reactive Power: The reactive power of each phase (in volt-amperes reactive) is

2 V X2
Q = V I sin = I X = (VAR)
X

The total reactive power of the load is

V X2
QT = 3Q = 3V I sin = 3I 2 X = 3 (VAR)
X

or, as before,

QT = 3E L I L sin = 3I L2 X (VAR)

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Apparent Power: The apparent power of each phase is

S = V I (VA)

The total apparent power of the load is

S T = 3S = 3V I (VA)

or, as before,
S T = 3E L I L (VA)

Power Factor: The power factor of the system is given by

PT
FP = = cos (leading or lagging)
ST

1.11 Power Calculation for -Connected Balanced Load

Average Power:
V R2
P = V I cos = I 2 R = (W)
R
V R2
PT = 3 P = 3V I cos = 3I 2 R = 3 (W)
R
IL
or, since I = and V = E L
3

then PT = 3E L I L cos (W)

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Reactive Power:
2 V X2
Q = V I sin = I X = (VAR)
X
2
V X2
QT = 3Q = 3V I sin = 3I X = 3 (VAR)
X
or, as before,
QT = 3E L I L sin (VAR)

Apparent Power:
S = V I (VA)

S T = 3S = 3V I (VA)

or, as before,
S T = 3E L I L (VA)
Power Factor:
PT
FP = = cos (leading or lagging)
ST

1.12 Summary for Power in Balanced Three-phase Circuits (Three Phase Power Relationship)

The total power delivered by a three-phase generator or absorbed by a three-phase load is found simply by
adding the power in each of the three phases. In a balanced circuit this is the same as multiplying the power
in any one phase by 3 since the power is the same in all phases.

For a Y-connected load :

If the magnitude of the voltage to neutral is Vp , the phase current is Ip and the angle by which phase current
Ip lags the phase voltage Vp is p , the total three-phase power can be written as
P = 3| Vp | | Ip |cos p (1)
similarly, the total vars are
Q = 3| Vp | | Ip |sin p (2)
If the magnitude of line-to-line voltage is VL and line current is IL , then the total power and total vars
become as
P = 3 | VL | | IL |cos p (3)
Q = 3 | VL | | IL |sin p (4)
VL
where, Vp = and I p = IL
3
and the total volt-amperes of the load are
S = P 2 + Q 2 = 3Vp I p = 3 VL I L (5)

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For a -connected load :

The total power and the total vars are
P = 3| Vp | | Ip |cos p = 3 | VL | | IL |cos p (6)
Q = 3| Vp | | Ip |sin p = 3 | VL | | IL |sin p (7)
IL
where, Vp = VL and Ip =
3
and the total volt-amperes of the load are
S = P 2 + Q 2 = 3Vp I p = 3 VL I L (8)

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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