Symmetrical Components

Introduction
Symmetrical Components, first developed by C.L.Fortescue in 1918, is a powerful technique for analysing unbalanced 3 systems. Fortescue defined a linear transformation from 3 components to a new set of components called symmetrical components. The advantage of this transformation is that for balance three phase networks the equivalent circuit obtained for the symmetrical components, called sequence networks, are separated into three uncoupled networks. Further more, for unbalanced three phase systems, the three sequence networks are connected only at the points of unbalance. As a result, sequence networks for many cases of unbalanced Three phase systems are relatively easy to analyse. The symmetrical component method is basically a modelling technique that permits systematic analysis and design of three phase systems. Decoupling a detailed three phase network into three simpler sequence networks reveals complicated phenomena in more simplistic terms. Sequence network results can then be superimposed to obtain three phase results

The application of symmetrical components to unsymmetrical fault studies is indispensable.

Definition
In accordance with Fortescue, the threephase voltages, VR , VY , and VB are resolved into three sets of sequence components: 1. Zero sequence, consisting of three phasors with equal magnitudes and with zero phase displacement.

2. Positive sequence, consisting of three phasors with equal magnitudes, 120 o phase displacement and positive sequence.
3. Negative sequence, consisting of three phasors with equal magnitudes, 120 o phase displacement and negative

V1B
V0R V0Y V0B = V0 V1R = V1

V2Y

V2R = V2

V1Y

V2B

(a) Zero sequence

(b) Positive sequence

(c) Negative sequence

VR V0R

V2R

V1R

Phase R e.g. VR = V0R + V1R + V2R

Note
1. The sequence components do not exist as physical quantities in the network. 2. A balanced system has no negative or zero sequence components therefore: actual balanced system = positive sequence system 3. The generated emf is balanced, and therefore positive phase sequence only. 4. In a 3phase 3wire system, there are no zero sequencecomponents, because there is no neutral connection

Analysis
V0B V2B V1B VB NB CAPITALS denote phasors VR NOTE: The three sets of sequence phasors when superimposed, give the actual unbalanced conditions in the circuit Notation: Actual system subscripts Positive Phase sequence Negative Phase sequence Zero Phase sequence
NB : CAPITALS denote phasors
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VY

R,Y,B 1 R , 1Y , 1 B 2R,2Y,2B 0R,0Y,0B

To express these quantities algebraically, the complex operator a is used. This denotes a phase shift by + 120 o and multiplication by unit magnitude. Compare with operator j = -1
90

J j2 j3 j4

= = = =

1/ 1/ 1/ 1/

90O 180O 270O 360O

= = = =

1 / -270O = 1 / - 180O = 1 / - 90O = 1 / 0O =

0+j1 -1+ j 0 0j1 1+j0

jI

180
j2 I = -I

j3 I = -j I

i.e. Multiplication by j = phase shift of + 90o

360 90
aI
+j 0.866

Operator a a a2 a3 a4 = = = = 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/

I / x a" = I / ( + 120o ) = = = = 0.5 + J 0.866 -0.5 - j 0.866 +1.0 - j 0.0 -0.5+ j 0.866 = a
180

120O = 1e2j/3 240O 360O 120O

-0.5

0
I

a2 I

-j 0.866

360
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For POSITIVE PHASE SEQUENCE phasors taking RED as reference I1R I1Y I1B = I1R = a2 I1R = a I1R ej0 = reference phasor
I1B

I1R

I1Y

For NEGATIVE PHASE SEQUENCE phasors taking RED as reference I2R I2Y I2B = reference phasor = a I2R = a2 I2R
I2Y

I2R I2B

The UNBALANCED CURRENTS I R , I Y , I B may be expressed as:

In matrix form:

Or Inverting the matrix : 1 a a2 I0R x I1R I2R I0R I1R = I2R 1 3 1 1 1 a 1 a2 1 a2 a IR x IY IB Equation 1

IR IY IB

1 1 1 a2 1 a

Similarly for voltage: In matrix form: VR VY = VB Or Inverting the matrix :

1 1 1 a2 1 a

1 a a2

V0R x V1R V2R

V0R V1R = V2R

1 3

1 1 1 a 1 a2

1 a2 a

VR x VY VB

Equation 2

In abbreviated Notation: [ IRYB ] = [ A ] x [ I120 ] similarly for voltages. [ VRYB ] = [ A ] x [ V120 ] or [ V120 ] = [ A ]-1 x [ VRYB ]

or [ I120 ] = [ A ]-1 x [ IRYB ]

Writing Equation ( 2 ) as three separate equation: V0R = 1/3 (VR + VY + VB) V1R = 1/3 (VR + a VY + a2 VB) V2R = 1/3 (VR + a2 VY + a VB) (i) (ii) (iii)

Equation (i ) shows that there is no zero sequence voltage in a balanced three phase system because the sum of the balanced voltage phasors is zero. In an unbalanced three phase system, line to neutral voltages (Y System) may have a zero sequence component. But line to line voltages (D System) never have a zero sequence component since their sum is always zero.
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Likewise from Equation (1 ) we have that I0R = 1/3 (IR + IY + IB) (iv)

Now, in a three phase Y connected system, the neutral current In is the sum of the line currents: In = IR + IY + IB
Thus, In = 3 I0
i.e. neutral current equals three times the zero sequence current.

Thus in a balanced Y connection, line currents have no zero sequence component, since the neutral current is zero. Also on a three wire system (D connection or ungrounded Y connection), line currents have no zero sequence component.

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EXAMPLE 1 : Balanced linetoneutral voltages

VR VY = VB

277 / 0o 277 / -120o 277 / +120o

V0 V1

= 1/3 ( 277 / 0o + 277 / -120o + 277 / +120o ) = 0 = 1/3 ( 277 / 0o + 277 / -0o + 277 / +360o ) = 277 / 0 = VRN

V2

= 1/3 ( 277 / 0o + 277 / +120o + 277 / +240o ) = 0

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EXAMPLE 2: Balanced currents but R B Y (reversed) sequence IR IY IB 10 / 0o 10 / +120o 10 / -120o

Calculate the sequence currents.

I0 I1

= 1/3 ( 10 / 0o + 10 / +120o + 10 / +120o ) = 0 = 1/3 ( 10 / 0o + 10 / +240o + 10 / +120o ) = 0

I2

= 1/3 ( 10 / 0o + 10 / +360o + 10 / +0o ) = 10 / 0o = IR

This example illustrates the fact that balanced three phase systems with R B Y (or negative sequence) have no zero sequence or positive sequence components.

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EXAMPLE 3 : Unbalanced currents phase Y open. IR IY IB 10 / 0o 0 10 / +120o

Calculate the sequence currents.

I0 I1 I2

= 1/3 ( 10 / 0o + 0 + 10 / +120o ) = 3.33 / 60o = 1/3 ( 10 / 0o + 0 + 10 / +360o ) = 6.67 / 0o = 1/3 ( 10 / 0o + 0 + 10 / +240o ) = 3.33 / -60o

Also, the neutral current is:

In In

= IR + IY + IB = 10 / 0o + 0 + 10 / +120o = 10 / 60o = 3I0

This example illustrates the fact that unbalanced three phase systems may have values for all sequence components. Also, the neutral current equals three times the zero sequence currents.
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EXAMPLE: In an unbalanced three phase system VR = 4.0 / 0o , VY = 3.0 / - 90o , VB = 8.0 / 143.1o

Find all the voltage components of the corresponding positive, negative and zero sequence components, and draw the phasors.
SOLUTION: Taking VR as reference Zero sequence: V0R = = = = = 1/3 (VR + VY + VB) 1/3 {(4 + j 0) + (0 j 3) + (-6.4 + j 4.8)} 1/3 (-2.4 + j1.8) 1/3 (3 / 143.1) 1 / 143.1 = V0Y = V0B

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Positive sequence:

V1R = = = = = = = V1Y = V1B =

1/3 (VR + a VY + a2 VB) 1/3 {(4 / 0o) + (1 / +120o) (3 / -90o) + (1 / -120o) (8 / 143.1o)} 1/3 {(4 / 0o) + (3 / +30o) + (8 / +23.1o)} 1/3 {(4 + j 0) + (2.6 + j 1.5) + (7.36 + j 3.14)} 1/3 (13.96 + j 4.64) 1/3 (14.71 / 18.4o) 4.9 / 18.4o V1R / -120o = 4.9 / +101.6o V1R / +120o = 4.9 / +138.4o
1/3 (VR + a2 VY + a VB) 1/3 {(4 / 0o) + (1 / -120o) (3 / -90o) + (1 / +120o) (8 / 143.1o)} 1/3 {(4 / 0o) + (3 / -210o) + (8 / +263.1o)} 1/3 {(4 + j 0) + (-2.6 + j 1.5) + (-0.96 - j 7.94)} 1/3 (0.44 + j -6.44) 1/3 (6.46 / -86.1o) 2.2 / -86.1o V1R / +120o = 2.2 / +33.9o V1R / -120o = 2.2 / -206.1o
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Negative sequence:

Check : VR = = = = = (V1R + V2R + V0R) {(4.9 / 18.4o) + (2.2 / -86.1o) + (1 / 143.1 )} {(4.65 + j 1.55) + (0.15 - j 2.15) + (-0.8 - j 0.6)} 4+j0 4 / 0o
90 VB 180 VY V1Y 360 360 VR 0 180 V1B V1R 0 90

ACTUAL SYSTEM
90 V2B 180 V2R 360 V2Y 0

POSITIVE SEQUENCE
90

V0R V0Y V0B

360

NEGATIVE SEQUENCE

ZERO SEQUENCE

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Resistive Load
1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 90 180 270 360 450 540

V = X / 0o I = Y / 0o

-0.5
-1.0 -1.5

Inductive Load
1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 90 180 270 360 450 540

V = X / 0o I = Y / -90o

Capacitive Load
1.5
1.0 0.5 0.0 0 -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 90 180 270 360 450 540

V = X / 0o

I = Y / -90o

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