Three Phase A.C.

Circuits

8 THREEPHASE A.C. CIRCUITS The threephase scheme of power transmission

offers the advantages of using the a.c mode, constant
power flow, and high power transfer capability.
The signals in chapter 7 were sinusoidal alternating
voltages and currents of the so-called singlephase
type. An emf of such type can be easily generated by In general, threephase systems have a number of
rotating a single loop of conductor (or single winding), advantages over singlephase systems, like:
hence singlephase, in a magnetic field.
More efficient power transmission.
In practice singlephase alternating emf is not
sufficient and satisfactory for many practical More costeffective (the total number of
applications, such as a.c. motors. For this reason conductor material less than in the singlephase).
multiphase a.c. emfs (produced by multiple windings)
are generated and utilised in many electrical systems. Motors and control gear are simpler, more
efficient and less costly.
The threephase system is by far the most common
multiphase system used for generation, transmission, Industry makes use of 6, 12 and 24phase
and heavy power utilisation of a.c. electric energy systems that can be produced form a three
because of its economic and operating advantages. phase supply.
One type of an ideal threephase generator, contains
three identical windings displaced by 120 from each
other in space and rotating within a constant
magnetic field. Such a source generates three
sinusoidal voltages of equal amplitudes displaced
form each other by 120 in time.

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

8.1 SinglePhase A.C. Generators: the principles 8.2 ThreePhase Balanced A.C. Generators

A singlephase alternating sinusoidal voltage can be A threephase supply uses the same principle as the
generated by rotating with constant angular velocity singlephase, where three coils angularly displaced
a single winding aa in a constant magnetic field B. between each other around the same axis of rotation
are used, instead of one coil.
As aa rotates anticlockwise in the magnetic field B its
sides a and a cut the magnetic flux and emf is Each coil is called phase winding. The three phases
induced in them by motional induction. The induced are usually given the names
emf at both sides of the winding at time t is
red phase (Rphase), or Aphase
eaa (t ) = 2 Blvh = 2 Blr sin = 2 Blr sint (8.1) yellow phase (Yphase), or Bphase and
blue phase (Bphase), or Cphase
the motion referred from the horizontal position at
time t = 0 . A balanced or symmetrical threephase supply
consists of three identical coils displaced by 120 in
space from each other. Therefore, a balanced or
v = r symmetrical threephase supply has sinusoidal
winding alternating phase voltages (or currents), which are
N vh
B r
i(t ) l equal in magnitude and
B
displaced in time from one another by a phase of
a e a 120 .
aa v h
S
v It is assumed that the load at each phase is also
balanced (see later), or well buffered.
Cross section perpendicular
to the axis of rotation If either of the above conditions do not apply, the
supply is said to be imbalanced.

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

An elementary threephase, twopole generator is The voltage signals from a balanced emf generator
shown bellow. are given by

It has three identical stator coils ( aa, bb, and cc ), eaa = V ph sin(t )
U|
of one or more turns, displaced by 120 in space ||
|
from each other and ebb = V ph sin(t 120 )|V (8.2)
||
The rotor carries a field winding excited by the |
d.c. supply through brushes and slip rings and is ecc = V ph sin(t 240 )|
|W
driven at an angular velocity in such a way that
the flux is distributed sinusoidally over the poles.
Using the spatial geometry of the coils in the
Here the phase windings are static within a rotating armature, the phasor diagram in polar form of the
magnetic field, but the principle of induction is the above signals is the following
same as in the singlephase generator.
a
APhase
Field Armature Eaa
winding a or 120
stator a b
Ecc c Ebb
c
b
b
c
N S
120
Armature Note that
Field system c Rotation b Coil sides
or Eaa + Ebb + Ecc = 0 or eaa (t ) + ebb (t ) + ecc (t ) = 0 (8.3)
rotor
a

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

8.2.1 Winding Connections for A.C. Balanced Voltage phasor diagram in the WYE connection
Generators
IL
The phase windings may be connected in either wye A
I ph
or delta connections.
ean V ph
Balanced WYE Supply Connection V L L , or V L
A wye or star connection (represented as Y) results n
ecn N
by connecting together all three primed or unprimed
terminals to form a common terminal known as the ebn
B
neutral of the wye. If a neutral conductor is used, the C
system is known as
a fourwire, threephase system, otherwise it is A
a threewire, threephase system.
IL
A I L = I ph
I ph VCA V AN V (8.4)
AB
a V L = 3V ph
N
V ph VBN
V L L VCN
a
n C B
c N VBC
b
c
b B VL
C VBC = V L0 V AN = V ph90= 90
3
V
where V AB = V L120 VBN = V ph 30= L 30 (8.5)
ph stands for phase quantities, and 3
V
L, and L-L stands for line, and line-to-line VCA = V L240 VCN = V ph150= L 150
3
quantities respectively.
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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

Current phasor diagram in the DELTA connection

Balanced DELTA Supply Connection I A FH I A = I L IK

A
b
Although almost all a.c. generators have their Ia = I ph90 V L L , or V L
a b Ib
windings connected in a wye connection, the fact that
the sum of the three emfs is equal to zero in the B
c IB
balanced case (see Eqn. 8.3), makes a delta a
c
connection possible. Ic IC
C
A delta or mesh connection (represented as ) can
be achieved by connecting in series the three Since the supply is balanced, the current phasors Ia ,
windings of the three phases, i.e. terminals a to b , b Ib , and Ic are displaced by equal phases from the
to c , and c to a . corresponding voltage phasors Vaa , Vbb , and Vcc

( 90 in the ideal case of non-resistor phase
IL windings). Hence the current phasor diagram
A becomes as the following.
I ph b
V L L , or V L
a b
B
c
a
c Ia V L = V ph
IC IA (8.6)
C I L = 3I ph
Ic Ib

IB

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

Example 8.1

A starconnected set of unbalanced threephase

voltages is as follows:
V AN = 200100 V
VBN = 10020 V
Ia V L = V ph VCN = 150110 V
IC IA
I L = 3I ph
Calculate the magnitudes of the line voltages.
Ic Ib
Solution
IB V AN = 200100= 34.7 + j197 V
A VBN = 10020= 9397
. + j34.2 V
VCN = 150110= 513 . j141 V
IL
I B = Ib Ic = I L0 Ia = I ph90= 90
3 V AB The line voltages are
IL
I A = Ia Ib = I L120 Ib = I ph 30= 30 (8.7) V AN V AB = V AN VBN = 1287. + j1628
. V
3
I VBC =VBN VCN = 1453 . + j1752. V
IC = Ic Ia = I L240 Ic = I ph150= L 150 V BN B
3 VCA VCA = VCN V AN = 166. j338 V
N
VCN So the magnitudes are
V BC
V AB = V AB = 2075
. V
VBC = VBC = 3384
. V
C
VCA = VCA = 227.6 V

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

8.3.1 Balanced Load WYE Connection

8.3 ThreePhase Balanced Loads

IA
A
A threephase load is said to be balanced if the load
impedances in each of the three phases are the same V AN ZY
(both in magnitude and in phase).
IN
N
VBN
ZY ZY
IB
If both the supply and the load are balanced, the B
supplyload system is called a balanced system. VCN IC
C

Threephase loads can be connected in either wye

or delta connections. V AN = VBN = VCN = V L N = V ph

V AB = VBC = VCA = V L L = 3V ph
(8.8)
I A = I B = IC = I L = I ph
I N = I A + I B + IC = 0

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

8.3.2 Balanced Load DELTA Connection Y and Y transformations

IA A wyeconnected network can be converted to a

A deltaconnected network and vice versa.
I AB
These transformations are useful for the analysis of
VCA V AB Z Z many network problems and they are given below.

By equivalence it is meant that in both connections,

ICA the corresponding currents entering each node and
IB I BC
B Z the corresponding voltage differences between nodes
VBC are equal in both representations.
C
IC For the balanced case, each Yimpedance is one
third of each impedance whereas for each
impedance is three times each Yimpedance.
V AB = VBC = VCA = V L L = V ph

I AB = I BC = ICA = I L = I ph (8.9)

I A = I B = IC = I L = 3I ph

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

A A 8.3.3 Single Line Equivalent Circuits

ZA Due to the symmetry in the balanced threephase

Z AB ZCA system, the network can be solved by solving only for
the singleline case. A Y transformation is needed,
in the case of a connection.
ZB ZC
B C B C
ZBC IL

Y Transformation Y Transformation V L N 0 ZY

Z AB ZCA Z AZB + ZB ZC + ZC Z A
ZA = Z AB =
Z AB + ZBC + ZCA ZC
Z AB ZBC Z AZB + ZB ZC + ZC Z A
ZB = ZBC =
Z AB + ZBC + ZCA ZA
ZCAZBC Z Z +Z Z +Z Z IL
ZC = ZCA = A B B C C A
Z AB + ZBC + ZCA ZB
(8.10) V L N 0 ZY

For the Balanced Case

Z A = ZB = ZC = ZY = 1 Z Z AB = ZBC = ZCA = Z = 3ZY

3
(8.11)

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

8.3.4 Power in Balanced ThreePhase Networks

The total reactive power (in VARs) is given by

The power delivered by a three phase supply is the
sum of power delivered by each of the three phases.
In the balanced case it is three times the power in any Q = 3V ph I ph sin = 3V L I L sin (8.14)
single phase. So the total average power (in Watts) is

P = 3V ph I ph cos (8.12) and the total complex power is

where
S = P + jQ (8.15)
V ph is the phase voltage
I ph is the phase current
The total apparent power (in VAs) is then
cos is the load power factor
is the phase difference between V ph and I ph
(positive for leading V ph ). S = S = P2 + Q2 = 3V ph I ph = 3V L I L (8.16)

In terms of line quantities Eqn. (8.12) becomes

P = 3V L I L cos (8.13)

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

Example 8.2 IA
A
A balanced 433 V, wyeconnected, threephase,
fourwire supply is connected to the following four
ean V AN ZA
wire, wyeconnected load:
N IN
Aphase: a 10 resistor ecn
Bphase: an 8 resistor in series with a 2 VBN
ZB ZC
inductive reactance ebn IB
Cphase: a 4 resistor in series with a 5 B VCN
capacitive reactance. IC
C
Determine the current in each phase of the load and
in the neutral wire.
Z A = 10 , So I A = V AN / Z A = 2500 = 250 A
100
Solution
ZB = 8 + 2 j = 825
. 14 , So
Conventionally, it is assumed that 433 V is the rms I B = VBN / ZB = 250120 = 303
. 134 A
. 14
825
value of the line to line voltage of the supply
system. Therefore, the magnitude of the phase
ZC = 4 5 j = 64
. 513
. , So
voltage is
V ph = V L / 3 = 433 / 3 = 250 V IC = VCN / ZC = 250 240 = 391 . 1887
.A
. 513
64 .

Assume that the phase sequence is ABC and take I N = I A + I B + IC

the Aphase as reference. So = 25+ (2105 . 218. j) + (3865
. + 591
. j)
= 437 . 1589. j = 3817
. 1534 .A
V AN = V ph0 , VBN = V ph120 , VCN = V ph 240

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Three Phase A.C. Circuits Three Phase A.C. Circuits

Example 8.3

A threephase, 440 V a.c. motor provides a fullload (3) Since the power factor is 0.8, then
mechanical output of 10 kW when its power factor is
0.8 (lagging) and its efficiency is 90 per cent. = cos1(08
. ) = 3687
. lagging. So
Calculate at full load
Apparent power:
(1) the power consumed by the motor,
(2) its line current, and S = 3V L I L = 3 440 1822
. = 139
. kVA
(3) the apparent and reactive power consumed.
Reactive power:
Solution S = 3V L I L sin = 3 440 1822
. sin(3687
. ) = 833
. kVAR
(1) The input power to the motor is

P = output power / efficiency = 10 / 09

. = 111
. kW

(2) The input power is equal to the average power

supplied, so

P = 3V L I L cos I L = P . 103 = 1822

= 111 . A
3V L cos 3 440 08
.

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