Simple Introduction to Symmetrical Components

The Basic Premise :

Symmetrical components is the name given to a methodology, which was discovered in 1913 by Charles Legeyt Fortescue
who later presented a paper on his findings entitled, “Method of Symmetrical Co-ordinates Applied to the Solution of Polyphase
Networks.”

Fortescue demonstrated that any set of unbalanced three-phase quantities could be expressed as the sum of three
symmetrical sets of balanced phasors. Using this tool, unbalanced system conditions, like those caused by common fault types may
be visualized and analyzed. Additionally, most microprocessorbased relays operate from symmetrical component quantities
and so the importance of a good understanding of this tool is self-evident. (Protection Basics - Introduction to Symmetrical
Components) - GE - Grid Solutions,

This method can apply to any number of phases - Eg. 6 Phase systems

For example : Symmetrical Component Representation of a Six-Phase

Salient-Pole Machine - Y. A. AL-TURKI -Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University

We will only consider the ubiquitous THREE PHASE system.

The symmetrical or sequence component are known as:

1) Positive
2) Negative
0) Sequence

A three phase system may consist of only - one sequence - Positive Sequence (Balanced System)

It may consist of Positive & Negative Sequence (Unbalanced system not involving earth fault currents)

It may consist of Positive, Negative and Zero Sequence currents - Eg phase to ground fault.
 THIS ALSO ROTATES
ANTICLOCKWISE - THEY
HAVE ZERO SEQUENCE -
That is they are all together
with Zero Degree Separation
between the phases -
THEY ARE IN PHASE

The sequence components above are shown as phasors. The postive, negative and
the ZERO sequence ROTATE ANTICLOCKWISE - ALLWAYS WITH NO EXCEPTIONS

The Postive sequence has the following sequence: A-B-C (120 degrees apart)
The Negative sequence has the following sequence: A-C-B (120 degrees apart)
The Zero sequence has NO sequence - (all in phase)

We now introduce a 120 degree phase rotator that simplifies relating one phase to
another.

a ≔ e 1j ⋅ 120 deg = -0.5 + 0.866i

a 2 = -0.5 - 0.866i

a3 = 1
We will now show the relationship between the phase and sequence components
with the use of the "a" operator.

From Symmetrical Components for Power Systems Engineering -Blackburn

The alphabetic subscript refers to the phases (a,b,c)

respectively.

The numeric subscripts (1, 2 & 0 ) refers to the

Positive, Negative and Zero sequence components
respectively

The examples will be dealing with current but it applies equally to voltages.
The units have been omitted.
 Lets look at some examples

Balanced Loaded System

Ia ≔ 100 ⋅ e 1j ⋅ 0 deg = 100 ∠ 0°

Ib ≔ 100 ⋅ e -1j ⋅ 120 deg = 100 ∠ -120°

Ic ≔ 100 ⋅ e 1j ⋅ 120 deg = 100 ∠ 120°

120

100

80

60

40
Im ⎛⎝Ia_ph⎞⎠ 20

0
Im ⎛⎝Ib_ph⎞⎠
-20

Im ⎛⎝Ic_ph⎞⎠ -40

-60

-80

-100

-120

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Re ⎛⎝Ia_ph⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝Ib_ph⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝Ic_ph⎞⎠

1
I1a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + a ⋅ Ib + a 2 ⋅ Ic⎞⎠ = 100
3 As expected only positive
sequence values present for
1
 q p
1
I2a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + a 2 ⋅ Ib + a ⋅ Ic⎞⎠ = 0 a balanced three phase
3 system
1
I0a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + Ib + Ic⎞⎠ = 0
3

The sequence current given above is on an A PHASE REFERENCE !

It is important to understand that the positive sequence current shown above is

100A at an angle of zero degrees for A PHASE ONLY.

What is it for B Phase?

Look at the phasor diagram above

I1b ≔ a 2 ⋅ I1a = 100 ∠ -120° This makes sense as it is exactly

like the the phase currents above -
I1c ≔ a ⋅ I1a = 100 ∠ 120° and the phase currents are positive
sequence currents.
The system seems to be working!

Lets consider a Ph-Ph fault

Ia ≔ 0 ⋅ e 1j ⋅ 0 deg = 0

Ib ≔ 100 ⋅ e -1j ⋅ 180 deg = -100

Ic ≔ 100 ⋅ e 1j ⋅ 0 deg = 100

120
100
80
60
40
Im ⎛⎝Ia_ph⎞⎠ 20
0
-20
-40
Im ⎛⎝Ib_ph⎞⎠ -60
-80
-100
Im ⎛⎝Ic_ph⎞⎠ -120

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Re ⎛⎝Ia ⎞
ph⎠ Re ⎛⎝Ib ⎞
ph⎠
 ⎝ a_ph⎠ ⎝ b_ph⎠

Re ⎛⎝Ic_ph⎞⎠

Lets check the sequence Currents - again on an A phase reference.

1
I1a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + a ⋅ Ib + a 2 ⋅ Ic⎞⎠ = -57.735i
3 Only positive and negative
sequence currents and no
1
I2a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + a 2 ⋅ Ib + a ⋅ Ic⎞⎠ = 57.735i zero sequence as ground not
3 involved in this case.
1
I0a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + Ib + Ic⎞⎠ = 0
3

I1b ≔ a 2 ⋅ I1a = 57.735 ∠ 150° The sequence currents in the B phase

I2b ≔ a ⋅ I2a = 57.735 ∠ -150°

I1c ≔ a ⋅ I1a = 57.735 ∠ 30°

The sequence currents in the C phase
2
I2c ≔ a ⋅ I2a = 57.735 ∠ -30°

Lets see if we can get back to the phase currents by summing the sequence currents:

IA_check ≔ I1a + I2a = 0

Checks out fine !

IB_check ≔ I1b + I2b = -100 Looks like this will work out for us.

IC_check ≔ I1c + I2c = 100

Graphical Display of Sequence values for the Ph-Ph case

60

50
Positive and Negative sequence
40
current in A Phase.
30

20
Note that they sum to zero.
10 (As expected)
Im ⎛⎝I1a_chk⎞⎠ 0

-10
Im ⎛⎝I2a_chk⎞⎠
-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Re ⎛⎝I1a_chk⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝I1a_chk⎞⎠

120

100
 100

80

60

40
120
20
Im ⎛⎝I1b_chk⎞⎠ 0
100
-120
80 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
-20
Im ⎛⎝I2b_chk⎞⎠ -40
60

40
-60
Im ⎛⎝I1b_chk
Im ⎛⎝I+1c_chk ⎞⎠ ⎞⎠
I2b_chk -80
20

0
-100 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
-20
Im ⎛⎝I2c_chk⎞⎠ -120
-40

-60
Im ⎛⎝I1b_chk + I2b_chk⎞⎠ -80 Re ⎛⎝I1b_chk⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝I2b_chk⎞⎠
-100

-120 Re ⎛⎝I1b_chk + I2b_chk⎞⎠

Re ⎛⎝I1c_chk⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝I2c_chk⎞⎠

Re ⎛⎝I1c_chk + I2c_chk⎞⎠

Lets look at a Phase to Ground fault

Lets consider a Ph-Ground fault

Ia ≔ 99 ⋅ e 1j ⋅ 0 deg = 99

Ib ≔ 0 = 0

Ic ≔ 0 = 0
 120

100

80

60

40
Im ⎛⎝Ia_ph⎞⎠ 20

0
Im ⎛⎝Ib_ph⎞⎠
-20

Im ⎛⎝Ic_ph⎞⎠ -40

-60

-80

-100

-120

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Re ⎛⎝Ia_ph⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝Ib_ph⎞⎠ Re ⎛⎝Ic_ph⎞⎠

Lets check the sequence Currents - again on an A phase reference.

1
I1a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + a ⋅ Ib + a 2 ⋅ Ic⎞⎠ = 33
3 All sequence currents
present. Same magnitude
1
I2a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + a 2 ⋅ Ib + a ⋅ Ic⎞⎠ = 33 and angle.
3

1
I0a ≔ ―⋅ ⎛⎝Ia + Ib + Ic⎞⎠ = 33
3

I1b ≔ a 2 ⋅ I1a = 33 ∠ -120° The sequence currents in the B phase

I2b ≔ a ⋅ I2a = 33 ∠ 120°

I0b ≔ I0a = 33
 I1c ≔ a ⋅ I1a = 33 ∠ 120°
The sequence currents in the C phase
2
I2c ≔ a ⋅ I2a = 33 ∠ -120°

I0c ≔ I0a = 33

Lets see if we can get back to the phase currents by summing the sequence currents:

IA_check ≔ I1a + I2a + I0a = 99

Checks out fine !

IB_check ≔ I1b + I2b + I0b = 0

IC_check ≔ I1c + I2c + I0c = 0

60
The phase currents and
50 sequence currents all in the
same direction.
40

30
Phase current is 3 x any of
20 the sequence currents.
Im ⎛⎝I1a_chk⎞⎠
10

Im ⎛I2 hk
⎞
Im ⎛⎝I2a_chk⎞⎠
0

Im ⎛⎝I0a_chk⎞⎠ -10

Im ⎛⎝Sumsequence⎞⎠ -20

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Re ⎛⎝I1a_chk⎞⎠

Re ⎛⎝I2a_chk⎞⎠

Re ⎛⎝I0a_chk⎞⎠

Re ⎛⎝Sumsequence⎞⎠