Power Engineering

Three Phase System

SINGLE PHASE AND 3 PHASE
INTRODUCTION TO THREE PHASE SYSTEM

In general, three phase systems are preferred

over single phase systems for the transmission
of the power system for many reasons, including
the following

• Thinner conductors can be used to transmit

the same kVA at the same voltage, which
reduces the amount of copper required
(typically about 25% less) and turn reduces
construction and maintenance costs.
• The lighter lines are easier to install and the
supporting structures can be less massive and
farther apart.

• In general, most larger motors are three phase

because they are essentially self starting and
do not require a special design or additional
starting circuitry.
Three phase voltages

A 3 phase generator basically consists of a

rotating magnet (called the rotor) surrounded
by a stationary winding (called the stator).
Three separate windings or coils with
terminals a - a’, b - b’ and c - c’ are physically
placed 120o apart around the stator.
Generated Voltages

The three phase generator can supply power to

both single phase and three phase loads
The sinusoidal expression for each of the phase

𝜈𝐴𝑁 = 𝑉𝑚(𝐴𝑁) cos 𝜔𝑡

voltages

𝜈𝐵𝑁 = 𝑉𝑚(𝐵𝑁) cos(𝜔𝑡 − 120°)

𝜈𝑐𝑁 = 𝑉𝑚(𝑐𝑁) cos(𝜔𝑡 − 240°) = 𝑉𝑚(𝑐𝑁) cos(𝜔𝑡

+ 120°)
 Definitions

• 4 wires
– 3 “active” phases, A, B, C
– 1 “ground”, or “neutral”
• Color Code
– Phase A Red
– Phase B Black
– Phase C Blue
– NeutralWhite or Gray

ECE 441 8
 Phasor expression

In phasor expression

E EM EM
E A  2M 0 EB  2  120 E  2
C

120
Where
EM : peak
value EA, EB and EC : rms
value

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 The phasor diagram of the phase voltages

The effective value of

each is determined
by
Vm( AN )
V AN  2  m( AN )

0.707V

Vm(BN )  0.707Vm(BN ) VAN  VAN ( m )0o

VBN 2
 VBN ( m ) 120 o
VBN
VCN  V m(CN)  m(CN)
2 0.707V VCN  V
CN( m 120
o

)
 If the voltage sources have the same amplitude
and frequency ω and are out of the phase with
each other by 120o, the voltages are said to be
balanced. By rearranging the phasors as shown
in figure below, so

VBN VCN
VAN
V 0o V  120o V 
120o
ANV(m)m (1.0  0.5  j0.866
BN (m)  0.5  j0.866)
CN (m) 

0
Where
| V A N || || V C N |
V BN Vm
 Connection in Three Phase System

A 3 phase system is equivalent to three single phase

circuit
Two possible configurations in three phase system
1. Y - connection (star connection)
2. ∆ - connection (delta connection)

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 Three phase Voltages Source

Y-connected source ∆-connected source

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 Three phase Load

Y - connected load ∆ - connected load

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Generator and Load Connections
Each generator in a 3 phase system maybe either
Y or  - connected and loads may be mixed on
a power system.

Z Z
Z Z

Z Z
Wye Connected Generator

Applying KVL around the indicated loop in figure

above, we obtain IL 
Ig V  V V
BN AN NB
VAB 
 VBN V CN  VBN
VBC
VAN V
NC
VCA  VCN VAN  VCN VNA
For line-to-line voltage VAB is given by
VAB  VA VB

 V 00 V 120 0

 1 3 
 V   2 V  j 2 V 
 

3 3
 2 V  2 V
j
 3
1   3V
0
 3V  
 2 2  30
j
 Phasor Diagram

VAB  VAB 300 3VAN 300


VCA  3VCN 1500

 3VBN 2700
VBC
 The relationship between the magnitude of the
line-to-line and line-to-neutral (phase) voltage is
VLL 
The line voltages 3V
are shifted 300 with respect to
the phase voltages. Phasor diagram of the line
and phase voltage for the Y connection is shown
below.
VCN

VCA VAB

Rearrange
VAN

Line-to-line voltages
VBN
Phase voltages
VBC
 Delta Connected Generator
For line-to-line voltage VAB is given by

IA  IAB  ICA

 I 00  I  2400
 1 3 
 I    2 I 
 2 I 
j
3 3
 2 I  j 2 I

 3
1 
 3I  j
 2 2 
VLL 
V  3I   300
The relationship between the magnitude of the
line and phase current is
IL 

3I

The line currents are shifted 300 relative to the

shown below. phase
corresponding I CA
current.
I C Phasor diagram of
the line and phase current for the Y connection is

IAB
IB
IA
Line-to-line currents
IBC Phase currents
Phase sequence

The phase sequence is the order in which the

voltages in the individual phases peak.
VC VB

VA VA

VB VC

abc phase sequence acb phase sequence

Since both the three phase source and the three
phase load can be either Y or � connected,
we have 4 possible connections
1. Y - Y connections (Y - connected source with
Y - connected load)
2. Y - � connection (Y - connected source
with
� - connected load)
3. � - � connection (� - connected source
with
� - connected load)
4. � - Y connection (� - connected source
with Y - connected load)
1. Y connected generator / source with
Y connected load

Z1  Z 2 
 IL  Z3
I g
VIL E

EL 
3V
 2. Y - �
Connection
A balanced Y - � system consists of
a balanced Y - connected source feeding
a balanced � - connected load

Z/3 Z/3 Z Z

Z
Z/3

ZY 
Z�
�  must consists of three equal impedances
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3. ∆ - ∆ Connection

A balanced ∆ - system consists of a

�
balanced ∆ - connected source feeding a
balanced � - connected load

Z Z
Z Z

Z
Z
4.   Y Connection

A balanced  - Y system consists of a

balanced  - connected source feeding a
balanced Y - connected load

Z/3 Z/3
Z Z

Z Z/3
 EXAMPLE 1
Calculate the line currents in the three-wire Y - Y
system as shown below.

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 Solution 1

Single Phase Equivalent Circuit

Phase ‘a’ equivalent circuit

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 VAN  (5  j2)  (10  j8) 
I Z ;
Aa T
T 16.15521.8
Z
1100
I Aa  6.81 
 16.15521.8 21.8
I B b  I A a  120
 6.81 141.8A

I C c  I A a   240
 6.81  261.8  6.8198.2A
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 EXAMPLE 2

A balanced delta connected load having an

impedance 20 - j15  is connected to a delta
connected, positive sequence generator having VAB
= 3300 V. Calculate the phase currents of the
load and the line currents.

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Solution 2

 ZΔ  20  j15   25 
36.87
 VAB  3300 V
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 Phase Currents

3300
I ab   
ZΔ 25  38.87 13.236.87A
Vab

I bc  Iab  120  13.2 -

83.13A Ica  Iab  120 
13.2156.87A

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 Line Currents

 I a b 3   30
I Aa
 13.236.87  3   30 
 22.866.87 A

I B b  I A a   1 2 0   22.86 - 113.13
A IC c  IA a   1 2 0  
22.86126.87 A

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 ∆ - Connected Generator
with a Y - Connected Load

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 EXAMPLE 3
A balanced Y - connected load with a phase
impedance 40 + j25  is supplied by a balanced,
positive-sequence Δ-connected source with a line
voltage of 210V. Calculate the phase currents. Use VAB
as reference.

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Solution 3

the load impedance, ZY and the source voltage, VAB are

 ZY  40  j25 
47.1732 
 VAB  2100 V 37
When the ∆ - connected source is transformed to a
Y - connected source,

VAB
V  3   30
an

2100
 3 1  30
 121.2 -
30 V

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The line currents are

I Aa  121.2  30
Z Y  47.1732  2.57 - 62 A
Van

IBb  IAa  120  2.57 -182

A ICc  IAa  120  2.5758 A

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Summary of Relationships in Y and ∆ -
connections

Y-connection ∆-connection
Voltage VL  Vφ
VL  3Vφ
magnitudes
Current I L  Iφ IL 
magnitudes
3Iφ
Phase VL leads Vφ by IL lags Iφ by 30°
sequence 30°

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