Topic 2

3-phase AC Circuit

Dr. Zulkarnain Ahmad Noorden

P06-210, 07-5535451

Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
 Course Topics

1 – AC Power (2 weeks)

2 – 3-Phase System (2 weeks)

3 – Magnetic Circuits (2 weeks)

4 – Transformers (2 weeks)

5 – Generation, Transmission & Distribution (4 weeks)

6 – DC Machines (1 week)

7 – AC Machines (1 week)

TOTAL – 14 weeks
Topics to be covered:
v AC Generation, Transmission & Distribution
v Characteristics of 3-Phase System
v Star Connection
v Delta Connection
v Balanced Load
v Power Measurement
v Unbalanced Load
 AC Generation,
Transmission & Distribution
 AC Generation, Transmission & Distribution
Transmission

Generation

*Photo from http://www.poncelectric.com/

Distribution
 AC Generation

How to generate AC?

How to generate sinusoidal

waveform?

AC generator
*Photo from http://www.wikipedia.com/
AC Generation

Steam turbine for AC generation

AC generator
AC Generation

FARADAY’S law
Electromagnetic conduction:
If a conductor is placed in a magnetic field,
and either the field or the conductor moves, an
electromotive force (e.m.f.) is induced in the
conductor.
AC Generation

Basic principle of AC generation

 Basic principle of AC generation

*Video from ScienceMandotcom Youtube’s page

AC Transmission
How electricity (AC) being
transmitted?

→ Delivery of electricity
to consumers, between
the power plant and a
substation.

Transmission lines
 Lightning wire

AC Transmission
§ Electricity is usually
transmitted over long distance 3-phase 3-phase
through overhead power
transmission lines.

§ Due to the large amount of

power involved, transmission
normally takes place at high
voltage (110 kV or above).
Transmission lines
AC Distribution
A distribution system consists of all the
facilities and equipment connecting a
transmission system to the customer's
equipment.

Substation
AC Distribution
A typical distribution system
consist of:
• Substations
• Switches
• Protective Equipment
• Primary Circuits
• Distribution Transformers Equipment at substation
• Distribution Feeder Circuits
Characteristics of
3-Phase System
 Three-Phase System (3-ϕ)

Generation Transmission Distribution

 Three-Phase System (3-ϕ)
• A three-phase system is produced by a generator
consisting of 3 sources having the same amplitude and
frequency but out of phase with each other by 120º.

Three sources
with 120º out
of phase
Four-wire
system
 Why we need 3-phase system?

3-phase 3-phase

§ Construction and maintenance, minimum

(cheaper).
§ Starting behavior and operation of 3-F
equipment better or more stable than 1- F.
 Why we need 3-phase system?

1-phase 3-phase

§ For same power at the transmission line, less

conductor and light.
§ High efficiency.
 Why we need 3-phase system?

§ Power delivered to the load is constant at all

times, whereas in a single-phase system the power
pulsates with time.
 Generation of Three-phase (Condition 1)
Suppose three similar loops of wire with terminals R-R’, Y-
Y’ and B-B’ are fixed to one another at angles of 120o and
rotating in a magnetic field.
R

B1
Y1

N S

B Y

R1
§ It has 3 conductor loops that are R (red),
Y (yellow) and B (blue).

§ The conductor loop will move in circle

and then cut off the magnetic flux.

§ It will produces the electromagnetic

force e.m.f. in the conductor.

§ Maximum e.m.f. is when the conductor

loop is 90° with magnetic flux line.
 Generation of Three-Phase (Condition 2)
Three separate windings or coils with terminals R-R’, Y-Y’
and B-B’ are physically placed 120o apart around the stator.

Induction generator
Demonstration on 3-Phase Generation
 Characteristics of 3-ϕ System

The instantaneous e.m.f. generated in phase R, Y and B:

vR = VR sin wt
vY = VY sin (wt -120o)
vB = VB sin (wt -240o) = VBsin (wt +120o)
 Phase sequences : RYB and RBY
(a) RYB or positive sequence
VB VR = VR ( rms ) Ð0 o
w
120o VY = VY ( rms ) Ð - 120o
120o VR VB = VB ( rms ) Ð - 240o
-120o
= VB ( rms ) Ð120o
VY

VR leads VY, which in turn leads VB.

This sequence is produced when the rotor rotates
in the counterclockwise direction.
(b) RBY or negative sequence
VY
w
VR = VR ( rms ) Ð0 o
120 o
VB = VB ( rms ) Ð - 120 o
120 o VR
VY = VY ( rms ) Ð - 240o
-120 o
= VY ( rms ) Ð120o
VB

VR leads VB, which in turn leads VY.

This sequence is produced when the rotor rotates
in the clockwise direction.
 3-ϕ System

Generation Transmission Distribution

Generation

Transmission

Distribution
Star Connection
 Terms in 3-phase system
Line Voltage (VL) : Potential different between two lines.

Phase Voltage (VP) : Potential different between two phases or

voltage across load in each phase.

Line Current : Current flow in each line.

Phase Current: Current flow in each phase or load.

 Connection in 3-ϕ System
Star Connection (Star å )

§ Also known as Y connection (wye).

§ Usually been used in system that need high line voltage.

§ There are two type of Y connection, i.e:

i) 3 wire star connection
ii) 4 wire star connection
i) 3 wire star connection ii) 4 wire star connection

§ Use 3 line wire, that are R, § Use 4 line wire, that are R,
Y and B. Y, B and N.
§ All of the conductor loop § N wire is connected to
source is connected in reference point S.
similar reference point S.
Star Connection
Line Voltage
VRY : Line voltage R & Y
VYB : Line voltage Y & B
VBR : Line voltage B & R

Phase Voltage
VRN : Phase voltage R
VYN : Phase voltage Y
VBN : Phase voltage B
 Voltages in Star Connection
VRN is take as the reference point in
positive rotation
VRN = VRN Ð0! = VP Ð0!
VYN = VYN Ð - 120! = VP Ð - 120!
VBN = VBN Ð120! = VP Ð120!

From Kirchhoff Law:

VRY = VRN - VYN = VP Ð0 ! - VP Ð - 120 !
(
= VP 1Ð0 ! - 1Ð - 120 ! )
= 3 V P Ð30 !
With the same method ;
VYB = VYN - VBN = 3 VP Ð - 90!
VBR = VBN - VRN = 3 VP Ð150!

As conclusion : VL = 3 VP Ð30 !

Line voltage (VL) has magnitude Ö3 VP and is leading

phase voltage (VP) with 30°.
 Currents in Star Connection
Current flow in each line is:
IR : Line current R.
IY : Line current Y.
IB : Line current B.

Phase current : Current that flow through each phase

loop or load.

For star connection;

I L (Line current) = I P (Phase current)
Phasor Diagram for Star Connection
Delta Connection
 Delta Connection (r)
§ Usually been used in system that need high line
current.
§ Connect all the conductor in series.
§ No neutral line.

Generator Load
 Voltages in Delta Connection
Line Voltage
VRY Þ Voltage across
conductor RR’.
VYB Þ Voltage across
conductor YY’.
VBR Þ Voltage across
conductor BB’.

In delta connection, line voltage

is also the phase voltage.
VL (Line voltage) = VP (Phase voltage)
 Currents in Delta Connection
Phase current IRY, IYB dan IBR Þ Current flow through
each conductor loop in each phase.
And IRY always be taken as the reference current, so;
I RY = I RY Ð0! = I P Ð0!
I YB = I YB Ð - 120! = I P Ð - 120!
I BR = I BR Ð120 = I P Ð120!
At the load :
Þ I R = I RY - I BR
= I P Ð0! - I P Ð120!
= 3 I P Ð - 30 !
 Then ;
I Y = I YB - I RY = 3 I P Ð - 150!
I B = I BR - I YB = 3 I P Ð90 !

Line Current (IL) lagging current phase (IP) with 30°.

Magnitude Þ IL = Ö3 IP.

As a conclusion :

I L = 3 I P Ð - 30 !
Phasor Diagram for Delta Connection
Balanced Load
 Balance 3-ϕ System
• The system will have same value of load in each
phase.

• Each phase voltage will have same magnitude and

phase different 120º.

• Each phase current will have same magnitude and

phase different 120º.
 Balanced Load
Star-connected system I N = I R + IY + I B
IR
R
For balanced load system,
VRN Z1 IN = 0 and Z1 = Z2 = Z3
V BN V YN IY
VRN
Z2 Z
3 IR =
N
Y
Z1
B IN
IB VYN
IY =
VRN = Vphase Ð0° Z2
VYN = Vphase Ð - 120° VBN
IB =
VBN = Vphase Ð - 240° Z3
 IN = IR + IY + IB
Star 4-wire loads
IR For four-wire load system,
R IN = 0 and Z1 = Z2 = Z3
Z1
VRN
IN
N Line/phase currents:
V YN Z
VRN Ð0 o
IY Z2 3
V BN
Y IR =
B Z1
IB
VYN Ð - 120 o
Phase voltage:
IY =
Z2
Vphase = VRN = VYN = VBN IB =
VBN Ð120 o
Z3
 Star 3-wire loads IR + IY + IB = 0
IR
R

Z1
Line/phase currents:
VBR VRY
S
IY
VRS Ð0 o
Z2 Z
3 IR =
Y Z1
VYB
B VYS Ð - 120 o
IB IY =
Z2
Phase voltage:
VBS Ð120 o
IB =
Vphase = VRS = VYS = VBS Z3
 Delta-connected system Phase currents:
IR VRY Ð0 o
R
I RY =
Z1
I RY I BR VYB Ð - 120 o
VRY I YB =

Z3
1
Z2
Z

VBR
IY VBR Ð120 o
Y Z2 I BR =
VYB
I YB Z3
B
IB Line currents:
I R = I RY - I BR
I RY = IYB = I BR = I phase
I Y = I YB - I RY
I R = IY = I B = I line I B = I BR - I YB
Example 3
Example 4
Warm-up Question
Warm-up Question
Unbalanced Load
 Unbalanced Three-phase System
• An unbalanced system is due to:
• unbalanced voltage sources or
• an unbalanced load

• The line currents are:

V V V
I a = AN , I b = BN , I c = CN
ZA ZB ZC
• But the neutral line current is produced: Unbalanced load, Z A ¹ Z B ¹ ZC
I n = -( I a + I b + I c ) Note: For an unbalanced three-wire system, I a + Ib + Ic = 0

• To calculate power in an unbalanced three-phase system requires that we find

the power in each phase
• The total power is not simply three times the power in one phase but the sum of
the powers in the three phases.
 Unbalanced Three-phase System
• Example:
Find (a) line current (b) total complex power absorbed by load (c) total
complex power supplied by source.
Power Measurement
 Power in AC Circuit (1-phase)

Complex power, S
AC Load
Active power, P
source RLC Reactive power, Q

Complex power
Active power, P Reactive power, Q
 3-Phase Power Calculation
§ 3-phase power is equal the sum of the phase
powers.

§ Balanced loads results,

Star-connected power
Active power P
Reactive power Q

Apparent power S
Delta-connected power
Active power P

Reactive power Q

Apparent power S
 3-Phase Power Measurement
Star 4-wire system, each phase is measured separately
and the 3-phase power is measured using 3 single-
phase watt-meters.
PT = PA + PB + PC
IA PA
Phase A
A W

VAN V IB PB
Phase B
A W

VBN V
IC PC
Phase C
A W

VCN V
Neutral (N)
Star 3-wire system, the power is measured using only
2 single-phase watt-meters and the 3-phase power is
the sum of the two watt-meters reading.

PT = PAB + PCB
PAB
IA Phase A
A W

VAB = VA - VB V
Phase B

VCB = VC - VB
V
Phase C
A W
IC PCB
Example 5
Complex power at load

Complex power at source