Three Phase System Following are the requirements that must be satisfied in order for a set of 3 sinusoidal variables

(usually voltages or currents) to be a "balanced 3-phase set" 1. All 3 variables have the same amplitude 2. All 3 variables have the same frequency 3. All 3 variables are 120o in phase In terms of the time domain, a set of balance 3-phase voltages has the following general form. va = vb = vc = Vm cos ( Vm cos ( Vm cos ( t+ ) t + - 120o ) t + - 240o ) =

Vm cos (

t + +120o )

Notice that we have assumed (and will continue to assume) positive (abc) phase sequence, i.e., phase "b" follows 120o behind "a" & phase "c" follows 120o behind phase "b" Figure 1 below illustrates the balanced 3-phase voltages in time domain.

Figure 1: Balanced 3-Phase Variables in Time Domain In terms of phasors, we write the same balanced set as follows. Note that the phasors are in rms, as will be assumed throughout this course. Va = Vm Vb = Vm Vc = Vm Thus, Vb = Va (1 -120o) , and Vc = Va (1 +120o) Figure 2 below illustrates the balanced 3-phase phasors graphically.
m

- 120o - 240o = Vm

+120o

Figure 2: Balanced 3-Phase Phasors

Requirements of a Balanced 3-Phase Circuit Following are the requirements that must be satisified in order for a 3-phase system or circuit to be balanced 1. All 3 sources are reprensented by a set of balanced 3-phase variables 2. All loads are 3-phase with equal impedances 3. Line impedances are equal in all 3 phases Having a balanced circuit allows for simplified analysis of the 3-phase circuit. In fact, if the circuit is balanced, we can solve for the voltages, currents, and powers, etc. in one phase using circuit analysis. The values of the corresponding variables in the other two phases can be found using some basic equations. This type of solution is accomplished using a "one-line diagram", which will be discussed later. If the circuit is not balanced, all three phases should be analyzed in detail. Figure 3 illustrates a balanced 3-phase circuit and some of the naming conventions to be used in this course

Figure 3: A Balanced 3-Phase Circuit

Where Does that

Come From?

Let us determine the relationships between the line and line to neutral voltages. By applying Kirchoff's Voltage Law (KVL) to the top "loop" of the source section in Figure 3, we get Vab = Va - Vb = Vm - Vm - 120o

Now, without loss of generality, let = 0o thus, Va = Vm 0o, and Vb = Vm -120o, so Vab = Vm 0o - Vm - 120o = Vm (1 - 1 - 120o ) = Vm (1 - (cos 120o - j sin 120o)) / 2 ) ) = Vm (3 / 2) + j ( / 2 ))

= Vm (1 - (-1/2) + j (

Converting to polar form, Vab = Vm Sqrt[ (3/2)2 + ( = Vm Sqrt[ 9/4 + 3/4 ] = Vm = Vm / 2)2 ] tan-1 {1/ tan-1 {( } tan-1 {(sin 30o) / (cos 30o) } / 2) / (3/2) }

tan-1 {(1 / 2) / (

/2) } = Vm 30o

tan-1 {tan 30o } = Vm

Thus we have the general equation (for abc sequence anyway) Vab = Va 30o

The relationships between the currents can be developed similarly. Summing currents at the "A" node in Figure 3 yields the starting equation, Ia = IAB - ICA This time choose Ia to be the phasor reference (at 0o). The final result is: Ia = IAB -30o

These relationships can also be remembered graphically using Figures 4 and 5 below. Figure 4 illustrates the voltage relationship. By looking at the phasor equation as the sum of two vectors (Va and -Vb ) we obtain the resulting Vab shown in the figure. Since Vab is longer, we know . . . . |Vab| = |Va| ,

and since Vab is ahead of Va, we know that, . . . . (the angle of Vab) = (the angle of Va) + 30o

Figure 4: Graphical Voltage Relationship Figure 5 illustrates the current relationship. Now the phasor equation is the sum of two vectors (Iab and -Ica ) we obtain the resulting Ia shown in the figure. Since Ia is longer, we know |Ia| = |Iab| ,

and since Ia is behind Iab, we know that, (the angle of Ia) = (the angle of Iab) - 30o

Figure 5: Graphical Current Relationship

Use of 3-phase in Industry

The Power Plant: Three-phase Power The power plant produces three different phases of AC power simultaneously, and the three phases are offset 120 degrees from each other. There are four wires coming out of every power plant: the three phases plus a neutral or ground common to all three. If you were to look at the three phases on a graph, they would look like this relative to ground: There is nothing magical about three-phase power. It is simply three single phases synchronized and offset by 120 degrees. Why three phases? Why not one or two or four? In 1-phase and 2-phase power, there are 120 moments per second when a sine wave is crossing zero volts. In 3-phase power, at any given moment one of the three phases is nearing a peak. High-power 3phase motors (used in industrial applications) and things like 3-phase welding equipment therefore have even power output. Four phases would not significantly improve things but would add a fourth wire, so 3-phase is the natural settling point. And what about this "ground," as mentioned above? The power company essentially uses the earth as one of the wires in the power system. The earth is a pretty good conductor and it is huge, so it makes a good return path for electrons. (Car manufacturers do something similar; they use the metal body of the car as one of the wires in the car's electrical system and attach the negative pole of the battery to the car's body.) "Ground" in the power distribution grid is literally "the ground" that's all around you when you are walking outside. It is the dirt, rocks, groundwater, etc., of the earth. Transmission Substation

A typical substation at a power plant The three-phase power leaves the generator and enters a transmission substation at the power plant. This substation uses large transformers to convert the

generator's voltage (which is at the thousands of volts level) up to extremely high voltages for long-distance transmission on the transmission grid. You can see at the back several three-wire towers leaving the substation. Typical voltages for long distance transmission are in the range of 155,000 to 765,000 volts in order to reduce line losses. A typical maximum transmission distance is about 300 miles (483 km). High-voltage transmission lines are quite obvious when you see them. They are normally made of huge steel towers like this:

All power towers like this have three wires for the three phases. Many towers, like the ones shown above, have extra wires running along the tops of the towers. These are ground wires and are there primarily in an attempt to attract lightning.

http://eece.ksu.edu/~starret/581/3phase.html http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power3.htm

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Mabini Campus, Sta. Mesa Manila

Research Work In Network Analysis III

Polyphase System

Submitted by

Nikko P. Fernandez
BSEE IV-3

Submitted to

Engr. Jesus Bien